LIVESTOCK SECTOR REPORT

A REVIEW OF THE LIVESTOCK SECTOR IN MALAWI IN 2021

With technical support of

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LIVESTOCK SECTOR REPORT
A REVIEW OF THE LIVESTOCK SECTOR IN
MALAWI IN 2021

FOOD AND AGRICULTURE ORGANIZATION OF THE UNITED NATIONS

LILONGWE, 2022

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Required citation:
FAO. 2022. Livestock sector report – A review of the livestock sector in Malawi in 2021. Lilongwe. [Link]

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Contents
Abbreviations and acronyms xi
Executive summary xiii

1. Introduction 1
1.1 Background 1
1.2 Objectives of the review 1
1.3 Materials and methods 2
1.3.1 Stakeholder mapping 2
1.3.2 Data collection 2
1.3.3 Data analysis 4
[Link] Value of animals and animal products 4
[Link] Consumption of animal products 4
[Link] Strategy and policy documents 4

2. General country information 5

2.1 Geographical location 5
2.2 Climate 6
2.3 Agroecological zones 6
2.4 Natural resources 6
2.5 Land tenure system and use 7
2.6 Administrative structure 7
2.7 Human population 8
2.8 Proportion of households engaged in agriculture and livestock activities 9
2.9 Contribution of livestock and agriculture to household economy 10
2.10 Gross Domestic Product (GDP) 10

3. Animal production levels 13

3.1 Major livestock species 13
3.2 Non-conventional livestock species 14
3.3 Farmed wildlife species 15
3.4 Major livestock breeds and breed conservation status 15
3.5 Breed conservation programmes 17
3.6 Livestock units and value of livestock and livestock products 17
3.7 Livestock products and value of products 18

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4. Livestock value chains in Malawi 21
4.1 Beef value chain 21
4.2 Goat value chain 21
4.3 Pig value chain 21
4.4 Dairy value chain 21
4.5 Poultry value chain 22
4.6 Cross-cutting layers of the value chains 22

5. Animal and animal products consumption, marketing, and trade 23

5.1 Consumption of animal products 23
5.2 Marketing 25
5.3 Import and export trade 26
5.4 Animal and animal product traceability 29

6. Livestock production systems 30

7. Animal feeds and feeding 32

7.1 Major grazing and browsing resources and their distribution 32
7.2 Major cultivated grass species and their distribution 32
7.3 Agro-industrial by-products used as animal feed 32
7.4 Feed prices 32
7.5 Feed manufacturers 32
7.6 Livestock watering 33

8. Animal health 34
8.1 Major diseases 34
8.2 Other diseases and parasites 34
8.3 Outbreaks and spatial distribution of major diseases 34
8.4 Zoonotic diseases 37
8.5 Vaccination and other disease control measures 38
8.6 Antimicrobial resistance 39
8.7 Ethnoveterinary practices 39
8.8 Capacity of national laboratory to diagnose animal diseases and make vaccines 40

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9. Human resources and livestock infrastructure 41
9.1 Human resources 41
9.1.1 Agriculture extension services 41
9.1.2 Core livestock extension service delivery 43
[Link] Veterinarians 43
[Link] Livestock staff in Department of Animal Health and Livestock
Development (DAHLD) livestock centres 43
[Link] Livestock staff in district agriculture offices 45
[Link] DAHLD livestock extension service delivery challenges and
suggested solutions 47
[Link] The role of community-based animal health workers 49
9.1.3 Research and educational institutions 49
9.2 Livestock infrastructure 50
9.2.1 Infrastructure managed by DAHLD 50
[Link] The Central Veterinary Laboratory 51
[Link] Livestock centres 51
[Link] The National Artificial Insemination Service centre 53
[Link] Effectiveness and deficiency of infrastructure in the livestock centres 53
9.2.2. District infrastructure 55
[Link] Current state 55
[Link] Effectiveness of district infrastructure and suggestions for improvement 56
9.2.3 The Centre for Ticks and Tick-Borne Diseases quarantine centre 56
9.2.4 Animal and veterinary science training capacity 56
[Link] Department of Agricultural Research Services (DARS) 57
[Link] Lilongwe University of Agriculture of Natural Resources (LUANAR) 57
9.2.5 Major input suppliers and producers 58
9.2.6 Veterinary service providers/ clinics 58
9.2.7 Breeding farms and ranches 59
9.2.9 Financial and insurance service providers 59

10. The role of livestock sector 60

10.1 Livestock for enhancement of food and nutrition security 60
10.2 Livestock for enhancement of human capital 60
10.3 Livestock for building social capital 60
10.4 Livestock as natural capital 60
10.5 Livestock as physical capital 60
10.6 Livestock as moving banks 60
10.7 Livestock for farmers’ resilience to external shocks 60

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10.8 Livestock for economic empowerment of women 61

11. Government expenditure on livestock 62

11.1 Government expenditure in agriculture 62
11.2 The proportion of agriculture expenditure in national expenditure 63
11.3 Malawi’s Agriculture Orientation Index 63
11.4 Expenditure on livestock 64
11.5 Suggested ways for increasing development of the livestock industry via
increased funding to the industry 65

12. Livestock strategy, policy, regulation, and legislation 66

12.1 Livestock strategy and policy 66
12.1.11 International strategy and policy instruments 66
12.1.2 Regional strategy and policy instruments 67
12.1.3 National strategy and policy instruments 68
12.1.3.1Malawi 2063 68
[Link] The National Agriculture Policy (NAP) (2016-2021) 68
[Link] The National Agricultural Investment Plan (NAIP) (2017-2022) 68
[Link] Policy Document on Livestock in Malawi (2006-2011) 68
[Link] The National Livestock Development Policy (2021-2026,
not published yet) 69
12.2 Livestock sector regulation 69
12.3 Livestock sector legislation 69
12.3.1 Control and Diseases of Animals Act 1967 (Cap 66:02) 70
12.3.2 Meat and Meat Products Act 1975 (Cap 67:02) 70
12.3.3 Milk and Milk Products Act, 1986 (Cap 67:05) 70
12.3.4 Protection of Animals Act 1970 (Cap 66:01) 70
12.3.5 Hide and Skin Trade Act 1970 (Cap 50:02) 70
12.3.6 Veterinary and Para-veterinary Practitioners Act 2001 (Cap 53:04) 70
12.3.7 Fertilizers, Farm Feeds and Remedies Act 1996 (Cap 67:04) 70
12.3.8 Public Health Act 1975 (Cap 34:01) 70
12.3.9 Pharmacy, Medicines and Poisons Act 1988 (Cap 35:01) 71
12.4 Livestock strategy, policy, regulation, and legislation evaluation and outlook 71

13. On-going projects and partners in the livestock sector 72

13.1 Farmer organizations 72
13.1.1 Farmers’ Union of Malawi 72
13.1.2 National Smallholder Farmers’ Association of Malawi 73

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 13.1.3 Malawi Milk Producers Association 73
13.1.4 Small and Medium Poultry Farmers Association 73
13.2 Civil society and advocacy 74
13.3 Veterinary statutory body 74
13.4 Professional organizations 74
13.4.1 Malawi Veterinary Association 74
13.4.2 Veterinary Assistants Association of Malawi 74
13.5 Non-governmental organizations 74
13.6 Major on-going livestock projects in the country and their focus 76
13.7 Livestock development partners 76

14. Prospects of the livestock sector 78

14.1 Livestock growth patterns 78
14.2 Potential for the growth of the livestock sector 79
14.3 Investment opportunities in the livestock sector 80
14.4 Livestock and public health 80
14.5 Livestock and the COVID-19 pandemic 80

15. Major constraints in the livestock sector 81

15.1 Operational constraints 81
15.2 Marketing constraints 81
15.3 Institutional constraints 81

16. Suggested recommendations 83

17. References 85

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Tables

Table 1: Details about major data sources. 2

Table 2: A description of the tools used to collect data from various stakeholders 3
Table 3: Agroecological zones in Malawi 6
Table 4: Malawi agricultural administration structure 8
Table 5: Contribution of agriculture to national GDP in 2019 11
Table 6: Crocodile farms in Malawi 14
Table 7: Breeds of major livestock species in Malawi 15
Table 8: Animal production estimates and their values 18
Table 9: List of the main beef abattoirs in Malawi 20
Table 10: List of milk processors in Malawi 21
Table 11: Prices of livestock and livestock products 24
Table 12: Malawi’s top trading partners for different livestock, livestock products,
animal feeds and veterinary supplies in the 4 years prior to this report
(2017-2020) 26
Table 13: Summary of livestock production systems in Malawi 29
Table 14: List of feed processors in Malawi 32
Table 15: Major diseases reported in Malawi 33
Table 16: Capacity of the CVL 39
Table 17: Current Central Veterinary Laboratory needs 50
Table 18: Details about the DAHLD livestock centres 51
Table 19: Performance of the DAHLD livestock centres with current human
resources and infrastructure 53
Table 20: Institutions offering training in animal and veterinary sciences in Malawi 56
Table 21: Veterinary service providers and veterinary clinics 57
Table 22: Private breeding farms and ranches 58
Table 23: Summary of associations in the livestock sector in Malawi 72
Table 24: Summary of the main areas of intervention and current activities
carried out by some of the NGOs working in the livestock sector 74
Table 25: Major on-going livestock projects in the country and their focus 75
Table 26: Recommendations for addressing major constraints in the livestock
sector in Malawi 82

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Figures

Figure 1: Location of Malawi within Africa 5

Figure 2: Proportion of land area being used for agriculture 7
Figure 3: Agricultural land use in Malawi 8
Figure 4: Malawi 2020 human population structure 9
Figure 5: Distribution of households in Malawi 9
Figure 6: Proportion of households engaged in livestock production by
different background characteristics 10
Figure 7: Malawi GDP (based on constant 2017 prices) and GDP growth rate
(annual) 11
Figure 8: Agriculture GDP as a percentage of national GDP; agriculture GDP
growth rate (annual) 12
Figure 9: Malawi GDP per capita (based on constant 2017 prices USD) 12
Figure 10: Trends in numbers of chickens in Malawi from 2011/2012 to 2020/2021 13
Figure 11: Trends in numbers of the major livestock species except for chickens in
Malawi from 2011/2012 to 2020/2021 14
Figure 12: Trends in numbers of non-conventional livestock species in Malawi
from 2011/2012 to 2020/2021 14
Figure 13: Distribution of the major livestock breeds in the agricultural
development divisions (ADDs) of Malawi 16
Figure 14: Tropical livestock units (TLU) by ADD 17
Figure 15: Average amount of tropical livestock units (per household) 17
Figure 16: Per capita consumption, in kg, of major livestock products
(meat, milk and eggs) 23
Figure 17: Composition of per capita consumption of meat products based
on food supply 24
Figure 18: Values of livestock, livestock products, feeds and veterinary supplies
import and export trade in the period 2011-2020. 25
Figure 19: Values of livestock, livestock products, feeds and veterinary supplies
import and export trade between Malawi and her major trading
partners in the period 2011-2020. 25
Figure 20: Malawi’s volume of trade with Mozambique 26
Figure 21: Disease occurrence statistics for ND in birds 34
Figure 22: Disease occurrence statistics for anaplasmosis in cattle 34
Figure 23: Disease occurrence statistics for babesiosis in cattle 34
Figure 24: Disease occurrence statistics for ECF in cattle 35
Figure 25: Disease occurrence statistics for FMD in cattle 35
Figure 26: Disease occurrence statistics for heartwater in cattle 35
Figure 27: Disease occurrence statistics for ASF in pigs 36
Figure 28: Vaccination for ND in birds 37
Figure 29: Vaccination for ECF in cattle 38
Figure 30: Vaccination for FMD in cattle 38

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 Figure 31: Extension planning areas (EPAs) in Malawi. 41
Figure 32: Number of technical livestock staff (from assistant veterinary
officer and above) under the direct jurisdiction of DAHLD 43
Figure 33: Number of technical livestock staff (from assistant veterinary
officer and above) in DAHLD farms 43
Figure 34: Livestock staffing structure at DAO 44
Figure 35: Number of livestock staff in DAOs 46
Figure 36: Proportions of staff who stayed at different positions (AVO, SAVO,
AHLDO, PAHLDO or CAHLDO) for different periods. 47
Figure 37: Numbers of technical livestock staff in DARS (A) and academic
staff in LUANAR (B) 49
Figure 38: Condition of farm structures in the livestock centres 51
Figure 39: Condition of farm machinery in the livestock centres 52
Figure 40: Livestock infrastructure at national level 55
Figure 41: Agriculture expenditure 61
Figure 42: Share of agriculture expenditure in total public expenditure 61
Figure 43: Rate of change of share of agriculture expenditure in total public
expenditure 63
Figure 44: Malawi’s agriculture orientation index (AOI, SDG 2.a.1) 63
Figure 45: Budgetary allocation to and expenditure in livestock (constant
2017 prices) 63
Figure 46: Rate of change in allocation to livestock 63
Figure 47: Share of livestock expenditure in agriculture expenditure
(constant 2017 prices) 64
Figure 48: Sustainable development goals (SDGs) in which livestock present
opportunities or challenges 66

Figure 49: Development partner support to the agriculture sector in Malawi

as of 2017 76

Figure 50: Livestock units (LU) trends for the major species (cattle, sheep, goats,
pigs and chickens) 78

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Abbreviations and acronyms
ADD Agricultural Development DAO District Agriculture Office
Division
EPA Extension planning area
AEDC Agricultural Extension and
Development Coordinator EU European Union

AEDO Agricultural Extension and FAO The Food and Agriculture

Development Officer Organization of the United
Nations
AHLDO Animal Health and Livestock
Development Officer FBS Food balances sheets

AIP Affordable Inputs Programme FISP Farm Input Subsidy

Programme
ALDO Assistant Livestock
Development Officer FMD Foot-and-mouth disease

AMR antimicrobial resistance FO Farmer organizations

AOI Agriculture Orientation Index FUM Farmers Union of Malawi

APES Agricultural Production GDP gross domestic product

Estimates HI Heifer International
ASAM Animal Scientists Association HW Heartwater
of Malawi
IFAD International Fund for
ASF African swine fever Agricultural Development
AU African Union IHS5 [Malawi] Fifth Integrated
AVO assistant veterinary officer Household Survey

BASEDA Basic Services Development JICA Japanese International

Agency Cooperation Agency

BVS Board of Veterinary Surgeons LDC Least Developed Country

CAADP Comprehensive Africa LLDC Landlocked Developing

Agriculture Development Country
Programme LSD Lumpy skin disease
CAHW Community-based animal LSPCA Lilongwe Society for the
health workers Protection of Animals
CASA Commercial Agriculture for LUANAR Lilongwe University of
Smallholders and Agribusiness Agriculture of Natural
CCA Common Country Assessment Resources

CISANET Civil Society Agriculture MBG Milk Bulking Group

Network MITC Malawi Investment and Trade
COMESA Common Market for Eastern Centre
and Southern Africa MMPA Milk Producers Association
CPF Country Programming MVA Malawi Veterinary Association
Framework
MW2063 Malawi 2063
CVL Central Veterinary Laboratory
MWK Malawi Kwacha
DAHLD Department of Animal Health
and Livestock Development

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 NAIP National Agricultural
Investment Plan
NAIS National Artificial
Insemination Service
NAP National Agriculture Policy
NGO Non-governmental
organization
NSA non-state actor
PAHLDO Principal Animal Health and
Livestock Development Officer
RECs Regional Economic
Communities (RECs)
RPC Rural Poultry Centre in
Malawi
SADC Southern African Development
Community
SADC/ Southern African
RISDP Development Community
Regional Indicative Strategic
Development Plan
SAHLDO Senior Animal Health and
Livestock Development Officer
SAVO Senior Assistant Veterinary
Officer
SDG Sustainable Development Goal
SME Small and medium enterprise
SMPFA Small and Medium Poultry
Farmers Association
SSLLP Small Scale Livestock and
Livelihoods Program
TADs transboundary animal diseases
TAPP Trustees for Agriculture
Promotion Programme
TLC Total Land Care
TLU Tropical Livestock Unit
UN United Nations
USD United States Dollars
VAAM Veterinary Assistants
Association of Malawi
WFP The World Food Programme
(United Nations)
WTO World Trade Organization

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Executive summary
The livestock sub-sector is growing very fast and contribute more to the economy because the sector
has high potential to contribute more to agriculture is not able to produce enough to satisfy local
gross domestic product (GDP). However, it requires demand and there are many opportunities for the
higher investment in the sector for the potential to be sector to supply livestock and livestock products to
realised, and such investment needs to be justified in other external markets. Additionally, the sector has
the country’s National Agriculture Investment Plans strategy and policy instruments which generally
(NAIPs). The objective of this review was to present conform to international and regional standards
updated information on the current state of the and are sufficient for ensuring that the sector moves
livestock sector in Malawi in terms of the challenges towards the right developmental direction.
it is facing and the potential it has. A major part of
the review was done via a desk study of the current Major recommendations from the review are 1) to
literature on various aspects of the livestock sector increase public and private sector investment in the
in Malawi. However, to capture an accurate and livestock sector; 2) to increase the number of livestock
wholesome picture of the sector, key stakeholders and livestock inputs supported in the Affordable
were interviewed to obtain data, information and Inputs Programme (AIP); 3) to create specialist
important insights about the state of the sector. officer positions such as Livestock Officer (Dairy),
Livestock Officer (Poultry) in the Livestock Sections;
Major findings of the review are that the livestock 4) to increase the number of livestock extension
sector in Malawi contributes at least 22.4 percent to workers by increasing the number of assistant
the GDP (6.6 percent to the national GDP). Despite veterinary officers (AVOs) and recruiting at least one
such a significant contribution to the economy, the assistant livestock development officer (ALDO) per
livestock sector received only an average of about agricultural extension planning area (EPA); and 5) to
0.8 percent of the government funding allocated make Livestock Sections in district agriculture offices
to agriculture annually from 2012 and 2020. This, more autonomous for them to have more say and
coupled with limited private investment into control over budgeting issues so that the Livestock
the sector, is leading to ineffective animal health Sections can be more appropriately funded. This can
and livestock development service delivery and be achieved by promoting the Livestock Sections to
inefficient livestock production. However, the programme level so that they become cost centres.
livestock sector has a lot of potential to grow and

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1. Introduction
1.1 Background (FAO) as well as the Common Country Assessment
(CCA) of country’s partnership strategy with the UN
The livestock sector is one of the growing sectors in Country Team (UNCT) towards the achievement of
Malawi. This is because as one of the countries with the 2030 Agenda and the Sustainable Development
low levels of animal production and productivity, Goals (SDGs) is not guaranteed, with high chance of
Malawi stands to benefit a lot from the livestock also losing support from international cooperation
revolution (Steinfeld, 2004). The human population funding.
in Malawi is increasing, translating into more
demand for livestock and livestock products for The availability of accurate and timely information
food and other purposes. On the other hand, as a is key for planning NAIPs, CPFs and CCAs. Current
developing country, Malawi is likely to experience and reliable data on livestock and information
sustained increases in people’s incomes (Latino et which elucidates its role in national economies and
al., 2020). Higher incomes usually translate into livelihood of the population as well as its potential
higher purchasing powers and resultant increase in and shortcomings is needed. Better understanding
consumption of animal products. of the potential and challenges of the livestock sub-
sector in Malawi will enable better planning and
As the sector strives to meet this demand, the decision-making. Gathering accurate and current
livelihoods of the livestock producers are likely to information on the potential and challenges of the
improve. There is also the possibility for the sector livestock sector, the role it plays in socioeconomic
to meet the demand of a wider market in the region development as well as priority areas of investment
and/or internationally. Such a wider market would will assist in providing the required evidence for
mean more economic opportunities for the farmers planning and decision making in NAIPs as well as
and the country. guide programming of the next generation of the
regional livestock development programme.
However, the livestock industry in Malawi is not
growing fast enough to meet the growing demand 1.2 Objectives of the review
in the country or to take advantage of the demand
in the region and the international market. Many of The overall objective of this review was to present
the challenges facing the livestock sector in Malawi up-to-date, accurate and complete information on
(Banda et al., 2011; I. Baur et al., 2017) are deep-rooted the current state of the livestock sector in Malawi
in limited public and private sector investment in the and challenges it is facing as well as the potential it
sector. For the sector to develop fast enough to meet has.
the demand for livestock and livestock products,
there is need for increased investment and support The specific objectives of the study were to:
in the sector.
• Find out current general information about
Recently, Malawi developed a National Agricultural the country.
Investment Plan (NAIP) aimed at achieving the
Comprehensive Africa Agriculture Development • Assess the state of animal production in
Programme (CAADP) targets as renewed in Malabo Malawi.
declaration (AU summit in June 2014 in Malabo,
Equatorial Guinea). One of the major targets of • Find out the levels of consumption and trade
CAADP/Malabo declaration is ensuring of 10 percent in animal and animal products.
allocation of public expenditure to the agricultural
sector. The NAIP indicates government’s decision • Identify animal production systems used in
on what sub-sectors are considered as priority Malawi.
areas in the agricultural sector and the amount of
investment each of these sub-sectors should receive. • Find out general animal management
Unfortunately, the livestock development agenda systems in Malawi.
is either absent or less prominent in such a key • Find out the state of animal health in Malawi.
national planning document, and because of this,
its inclusion in Country Programming Framework • Find out the types and distribution of human
(CPF), an agreement between countries and the Food resources available for the livestock sector.
and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations

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 • Enumerate the livestock infrastructure influence; 3) stakeholders with high interest but low
available in Malawi. influence; and 4) stakeholders with high interest
and high influence. The analysis helped with the
• Highlight the role of the livestock sector. identification of stakeholders with high priorities
for consultations for data, information and opinions
• Find out budgetary allocations to the about the state of the livestock industry in Malawi.
livestock sector. These stakeholders included: 1) livestock regulatory
and planning authorities; 2) livestock research and
• Find out on-going research and development
training institutions; 3) major input suppliers; 4)
activities in the livestock sector.
farmer associations; and 5) professional associations.
• Highlight the major constraints to the
livestock industry. 1.3.2 Data collection
• Highlight the prospects of the livestock The bulk of the data used in this report was from
industry in Malawi. national and international data repositories, as
summarized in Table 1. The National Statistical
1.3 Materials and methods Office (NSO) and Department of Animal Health and
Livestock Development (DAHLD) were consulted
A major part of the review was done via a desk by email and by phone for data that were not
study of the current literature on various aspects of available online.
the livestock sector in Malawi. However, to capture
an accurate and wholesome picture of the sector, Most of the other data, information and insights
key stakeholders were consulted to obtain data, were sourced from stakeholders via email requests
information and important insights about the state to fill key informant questionnaires. Stakeholders
of the sector. who did not respond to the questionnaire in time
were reminded by phone and by other means
1.3.1 Stakeholder mapping of communication, such as social media. Efforts
were made to minimize physical visits, as a way
A list of potential stakeholders was drawn up of preventing the spread of the coronavirus which
and a split into four categories based on the causes the on-going COVID-19 pandemic. A
stakeholders’ perceived levels of interest and levels description of the tools used to collect data from
of influence in the livestock sector. The categories various stakeholders is given in Table 2. Secondary
were: 1) stakeholders with low interest and low data were obtained from relevant recent reports and
influence; 2) stakeholders with low interest but high academic publications.

TABLE 1: DETAILS ABOUT MAJOR DATA SOURCES

Data type Primary sources Universal resource locator (URL) of

source
Food balances Food and Agriculture [Link]
Organization (FAO) en/#data/FBS
Food Balance Sheets
data portal
Livestock production Department of Animal [Link]
estimates Health and Livestock [Link]/ departments/animal-
Development (DAHLD) health-and-livestock-development
Macro- and micro- World Bank [Link]
economic indicators Development Indictors org/source/world-development-
indicators
Public expenditure FAO Government [Link]
Expenditure data portal en/#data/IG
Trade data NSO [Link]

Source: National Statistical Office (NSO) of Malawi. 2020. The Fifth Integrated Household Survey
(IHS5) 2020 Report (No. 5), Integrated Household Survey. Zomba.

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TABLE 2: A DESCRIPTION OF THE TOOLS USED TO COLLECT DATA FROM VARIOUS
STAKEHOLDERS

Stakeholder Number of Data collection Main data/information collected

category respondents tool
Professional 2 Survey Membership
associations Purpose
Mission
Strategies
Recent achievements
Challenges
Producer 5 Survey Membership
associations Purpose
Mission
Strategies
Recent achievements
Challenges
Non-governmental 3 Survey Local partners
organizations Vision
Mission
Main area of focus in the livestock sector
Major activities in the areas of focus
Challenges
Opinion about the state of the livestock
sector
Geographical coverage
Training 3 Survey; key Funding
and research informant Performance indicators
institutions interviews
Major areas of research
Challenges
Heads of DAHLD 8 Survey Performance indicators
livestock centres Desired level of performance to satisfy
industry demand / requirements
Infrastructure/equipment needed to
achieve the desired performance level
Human resources needed to achieve the
desired performance level
Heads of 31 Survey Annual funding
livestock offices Performance indicators
at government
Desired level of performance to satisfy
District Agriculture
industry demand / requirements
Offices (DAO)
Infrastructure/ equipment needed to
achieve the desired performance level
Human resources needed to achieve the
desired performance level

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 Stakeholder Number of Data collection Main data/information collected
category respondents tool
Heads of 8 Survey Annual funding
livestock offices Performance indicators
at government
Desired level of performance to satisfy
Agricultural
industry demand / requirements
Development
Division (ADD) Infrastructure/ equipment needed to
offices achieve the desired performance level
Human resources needed to achieve the
desired performance level
Animal health 48 Survey Career progression
and livestock Welfare
development
Infrastructure and equipment
staff, Assistant
Veterinary Officer Mobility
(AVO) upwards Challenges
Needs

Source: FAO. 2021. FAOSTAT database. Food and agriculture data. [Link]

1.3.3 Data analysis (quantity exported + seed + animal feed + waste +

other non-food uses)
Most of the data were managed and analysed in
2. one based on domestic food supply, loosely
Microsoft Excel. Most of the analysis included
calculated from
simple aggregation of data and identification of
major trends. quantity imported + quantity produced-quantity
exported
[Link] Value of animals and animal
products Although both approaches intrinsically overestimate
consumption, the first one is more conservative and
The values of animals and animal products were is even more likely to underestimate consumption.
calculated by multiplying estimated quantities of by The second approach overestimates consumption by
the estimated market prices. assuming that everything that is available as food is
consumed, which is not true. Hence, it acts as the
[Link] [Link] Consumption of upper limit of consumption.
animal products
[Link] [Link] Strategy and policy
Two measures of apparent consumption were used: documents

1. one based on food supply, estimated from The analysis of strategy and policy analysis was
mostly via identification of key words of interests in
starting stocks + (quantity imported + quantity policy and strategy documents.
produced) –

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2. General country information
Malawi is a land-locked developing country (LLDC) Republic of Tanzania to the north and northeast,
in Southern Africa. Previously called Nyasaland, Mozambique to the east and south and Zambia to
the country is a former colony of the British Empire west. Figure 1.
and is currently a member of the Commonwealth of
Nations. Malawi has many bilateral and multilateral The country covers a total area of about 118 484 km2,
trade agreements. The country is a member of the of which about 21 percent is Lake Malawi, which
World Trade Organization (WTO) and two Regional is also called the “Calendar Lake” on account of its
Economic Communities (RECs) such as the Southern being approximately 365 miles (587 km) long and
African Development Community (SADC) and the 52 miles (84 km) wide. Lake Malawi is part of the
Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa Great Rift Valley. The Shire River flows from the
(COMESA). Malawi is classified as a landlocked south end of the lake and joins the Zambezi River
developing country (LLDC). 400 kilometres farther south in Mozambique. The
surface of Lake Malawi is at 457 metres above sea
2.1 Geographical location level, with a maximum depth of 701 metres (2 300
ft), which means the lake bottom is over 213 metres
Malawi is located between latitudes 9° and 18°S, and below sea level at some points.
longitudes 32° and 36° E and is bordered by United
FIGURE 1: LOCATION OF MALAWI WITHIN AFRICA

Source: UN Geospatial. (2011). Africa | Geospatial, location data for a better world. [Link]
[Link]/geospatial/content/africa-1
Disclaimer: Final boundary between the Sudan and South Sudan has not yet been determined.
5|
In the mountainous sections of Malawi surrounding and soils, and has a specific range of potentials and
the Rift Valley, plateaus rise generally 914 to 1,219 constraints for cropping (Lin et al., 2013). Malawi has
metres above sea level, although some rise as high 4 major agroecological zones (Matchaya et al., 2014)
as 2,438 metres in the north. To the south of Lake as described in Table 3.
Malawi lie the Shire Highlands, gently rolling land
at approximately 914 metres above sea level. In this 2.4 Natural resources
area, the Zomba and Mulanje mountain peaks rise to
respective heights of 2 134 and 3 048 metres.
Malawi has many mineral deposits, most of which
are neither extensive enough for commercial
2.2 Climate exploitation nor easily accessible. There is some
small-scale mining of coal in Rumphi. Limestone
Malawi’s climate is hot in the low-lying areas quarrying for cement production is also an important
in the south of the country and temperate in the activity. Precious and semiprecious stones are
northern highlands. The altitude moderates what mined on a small scale. Malawi has deposits of
would otherwise be an equatorial climate. Between asbestos, uranium, and graphite. Exploration and
November and April, the temperature is warm assessment studies are on-going for other minerals
with equatorial rains and thunderstorms, with the such as apatite bauxite, kyanite, vermiculite, and
storms reaching their peak severity in late March. rare-earth minerals, base metals, gold, and ilmenite.
After March, the rainfall rapidly diminishes, and Malawi’s most significant natural resource is land.
from May to September wet mists float from the About a third of the country is covered with forests
highlands into the plateaus, with almost no rainfall and woodlands, of which about 10 300 square km
during these months. is protected forest reserves. Malawi has abundant
water supplies. Most areas are close to at least one
2.3 Agroecological zones river. Most rivers are now seasonal, but few large
ones are not. The Shire River is used for hydroelectric
power generation at Nkula Falls, Kapichira, and
An agroecological zone (AEZ) is a land resource Tedzani Falls.
mapping unit, defined in terms of climate, landform,
TABLE 3: AGROECOLOGICAL ZONES IN MALAWI

Zone name/ Annual Altitude (m) General Crops Areas

description rainfall characteristics
(mm)
Lower Shire < 600 30-500 Not suitable for Sorghum, Chikwawa and Nsanje
Valley rain-fed farming millet, cotton
and for most
crops grown in
Malawi
Lakeshore 600-800 400 - 1 000 Very fertile Most crops Balaka, Karonga,
and low- alluvial soils and do well Mangochi, Mwanza,
lying rain high average Nkhatabay, Nkhotakota,
shadow areas temperatures Phalombe, Salima and Part
of Rumphi (Nkhamanga
Plain)
Medium 800 - 1 1 000 - 1 500 Generally plain Maize and Blantyre, Chiradzulu,
altitude areas 200 areas most arable Dowa, Kasungu, Lilongwe,
crops do Machinga, Mchinji,
well Mzimba and Zomba
High altitude > 1 200 > 1 500 Irish Mulanje, Neno, Ntcheu,
plateau and potatoes, Thyolo and parts of Chitipa
hilly areas wheat, coffee (Misuku Hills), Mwanza
and tea and Rumphi (Nyika
Plateau)
Source: Matchaya, G.C., Phiri, A.C., Chilonda, P. & Musaba, E. 2014. Agricultural Growth Trends and
Outlook Report: trends in agricultural sector performance, growth and poverty in Malawi (No. H046781),
IWMI Research Reports. International Water Management Institute.

|6
2.5 Land tenure system and use (common in the central and southern regions of the
country), while in patrilineal systems the opposite is
There are six land tenure classes in Malawi: true (common in the northern region). A common
customary, lease hold, registered land, free hold, basic principle applies, however: land which is in
government land and public land (IFAD, 2019). use can be held and inherited indefinitely; whereas
Customary land is land held in trust for all people land that is not used is considered to belong to the
of Malawi by the president, who delegates his community under the jurisdiction of the chief rather
authority to traditional chiefs. Leasehold land is part than by individuals (Matchaya et al., 2014).
of private land that is leased by individuals or other
legal residents for periods ranging from 21 to 99 A person using land under customary land tenure
years. Registered land can be customary registered does not own the land per se, and this level of
or adjudicated land. Customary registered land is insecurity limits what the person can and cannot do
registered in the family leader name with all family with the land. This land tenure insecurity has been
names in that area (including the size of their land cited as one of the determinants for slow uptake
holdings) registered. There is implicit freehold of land improvement technologies such as the
status, and the families can trade in its holding by establishment of fodder trees for livestock (Toth et
leasing out or selling bits of it with groups consent. al., 2017). On the other hand, land tenure security are
Loans can therefore be obtained on strength of associated with improved agricultural productivity
their certificates to the land. Adjudicated land is and consequently household food security (Ajefu
land under a simplified leasehold system, which and Abiona, 2020). It has also been reported that
allows owners to have certificates for their pieces women’s vulnerability to temperature shocks is
of land based on survey and registration number. linked to women’s land tenure security and that the
Freehold land is land which has been granted to welfare of women is more impacted in districts with
persons for perpetuity (reserved for citizens only). patrilineal inheritance systems (Asfaw and Maggio,
Government land is land which is owned and 2018).
used by government for public utilities, schools,
hospitals, government offices and other properties, Approximately 59.92 percent of Malawi’s land is
markets, government irrigation schemes and other being used for agricultural purposes (Figure 2). This
public goods throughout the country. Public land is proportion of land use has stabilized to nearly 60
land managed by agencies of the government and percent since 2014.
traditional leaders in trust for the people of Malawi,
FIGURE 2: PROPORTION OF LAND AREA BEING USED FOR AGRICULTURE

Source: FAO. 2021. FAOSTAT database. Food and agriculture data. [Link]

openly used or accessible to the public at large. This Over 70 percent of the agricultural land is arable land
includes catchment areas, protected forest reserves, or under forest (Figure 3). About 19.6 percent of the
national parks, game reserves, dambos, community agricultural land is under permanent pasture, but
forests, riverines, flood plains, wetlands, military this amount is declining (Toth et al., 2017). About 29
sites and others. percent of the land that could be potentially irrigated
(116 249 out of 407 862 hectares) has actually been
Most land in Malawi (75 percent) is held under developed for irrigation purposes as of 2017/18
customary tenure. The customary land law varies (JICA, 2021).
from place to place, but there is a distinct difference
between matrilineal and patrilineal systems of 2.6 Administrative structure
inheritance. Under the matrilineal systems, access
to land is through the female members of the clan
Malawi is divided into three regions and 28 districts.

7|
FIGURE 3: AGRICULTURAL LAND USE IN MALAWI

Source: FAO. 2021. FAOSTAT database. Food and agriculture data. [Link]

A district is the primary administrative division and is 2.7 Human population

headed by a District Commissioner appointed by the
Central Government. For agricultural administration The 2018 population and housing census (2018
purposes, Malawi is divided into 8 Agricultural PHC) estimated the Malawi population at around
Development Divisions (ADDs), primarily based 17 563 749, representing an average of 2.9 percent
on districts and loosely on agroecological zones. increase per year (NSO, 2019). The population
The ADDs are Karonga, Mzuzu, Kasungu, Salima, structure in 2018 was as given in Figure 4. The
TABLE 4: MALAWI AGRICULTURAL ADMINISTRATION STRUCTURE

Region ADD DAOs covered

North Karonga Chitipa and Karonga
Mzuzu Mzimba (North and South), Rumphi and Nkhatabay
Central Kasungu Kasungu, Dowa (East and West) and Ntchisi
Salima Salima and Nkhotakota
Lilongwe Lilongwe (East and West), Dedza and Ntcheu
South Machinga Balaka, Machinga and Zomba
Blantyre Mwanza, Neno, Blantyre, Chiradzulu, Phalombe, Thyolo, Mulanje
Shire Valley Chikwawa and Nsanje
Source: Government of Malawi. 2018. National Agricultural Investment Plan (NAIP) (Strategic Plan).
Government of Malawi, Lilongwe.
2018PHC predicted that the population would be 18
Lilongwe, Machinga, Blantyre and Shire Valley, as 898 441 in 2021, while current UN figures estimate
shown in Table 4. Each ADD has livestock and other the 2021 population to be around 19 705 822 (World
specialists. Each ADD has district agriculture offices Population Review, 2021). The 2018MPH indicated
(DAO), corresponding to the local government that the southern region had the highest population
districts, except for Dowa, Lilongwe and Mzimba with 44 percent of the total population, followed
districts, each of which has two DAOs. The smallest by the central region (43 percent) and the northern
number of DAOs in an ADD is 2. region (13 percent). About 16 percent of the total
population lives in urban areas, while the rest lives
Each DAO is headed by a Director of Agriculture, in rural areas. The rural population mostly depends
Environment and Natural Resources (DAENR) on rainfed agriculture and livestock rearing for
and has an agriculture office headed by a Chief employment. Rapid population growth and
Agriculture Officer. The Agriculture Office has climate change have a greater impact on Malawi’s
several sections, including Crops and Livestock. development agenda because they continue to strain
the natural resource base.

|8
FIGURE 4: MALAWI 2020 HUMAN POPULATION STRUCTURE

Source: National Statistical Office (NSO) of Malawi. 2020. The Fifth Integrated Household Survey
(IHS5) 2020 Report (No. 5), Integrated Household Survey. Zomba.

2.8 Proportion of households engaged 2020 Fifth Integrated Household Survey (IHS5),
in agriculture and livestock activities 87.4 percent of all households engage in agricultural
activities. The 2018 PHC estimated the number of
households engaged in livestock activities at 45
There are nearly 4 million (3 984 986) households percent. This estimate was revised downwards to
in Malawi, of which the majority are in the central 43.4 percent in IHS5.
and southern regions (Figure 5). According to the

FIGURE 5: DISTRIBUTION OF HOUSEHOLDS IN MALAWI

Source: National Statistical Office (NSO) of Malawi. 2020. The Fifth Integrated Household Survey (IHS5)
2020 Report (No. 5), Integrated Household Survey. Zomba.

9|
FIGURE 6: PROPORTION OF HOUSEHOLDS ENGAGED IN LIVESTOCK PRODUCTION BY DIFFERENT
BACKGROUND CHARACTERISTICS

Source: National Statistical Office (NSO) of Malawi. 2020. The Fifth Integrated Household Survey (IHS5)
2020 Report (No. 5), Integrated Household Survey. Zomba.

Figure 6 shows the proportions of households small businesses, remittances, and casual work
engaged in livestock production by different (Kaumbata et al., 2021). Crops are a major component
background characteristics according to NSO of agriculture incomes (CISONECC, 2014), followed
(2020). In 2020, about 55.1 percent of the households by livestock, which contribute from 19 to 54 percent
had chickens, 21.4 percent had goats, 8.5 percent of total household incomes (Kaumbata et al., 2020). In
had pigs and 7.3 percent kept cattle. The proportion the poorest households, the contribution of livestock
of household keeping chickens was higher for to agriculture income is lower (on account of the
female headed households than for male-headed households not having many livestock to sell), while
households (61.6 percent against 52.9 percent). that of off-farm activities such as labour increases
(Svesve, 2016). However, livestock are very essential
2.9 Contribution of livestock and for people’s livelihoods, and for the resilience of
households to external shocks (CISONECC, 2014).
agriculture to household economy They are easier to dispose of in times of need
and are used as a buffer against uncertainty. It is
Most people in Malawi (64.1 percent) are employed also evident that livestock have the potential to
in the agricultural sector. Regardless of this, studies contribute more to household incomes, and this calls
have shown that a significant proportion of small- for more aggressive policies to create an enabling
scale farmers’ annual household income comes from environment for making livestock more productive.
off-farm activities, including salaries and wages,

| 10
FIGURE 7: MALAWI GDP (BASED ON CONSTANT 2017 PRICES) AND GDP GROWTH RATE (ANNUAL)

Source: Government of Malawi. 2018. National Agricultural Investment Plan (NAIP) (Strategic Plan).
Government of Malawi, Lilongwe.
2.10 Gross domestic product (GDP) crop and animal production, hunting and related
service activities. The contribution of agriculture to
In 2019, the nominal gross domestic product (GDP) the national GDP has been declining (Figure 8) due
of Malawi was estimated at 9.502 billion USD, to increasing diversification of Malawi’s economy.
based on constant 2017 prices, as shown in Figure Animal production contributed 29.5 percent to the
7. The predicted GDP for the year 2020 was 9.578 agriculture GDP and 6.6 percent to the national
billion USD. The GDP has generally been increasing GDP. This value is based on direct value of livestock
steadily. The annual GDP growth rate was highly only and does not include other uses of livestock
variable in the early 1990s but has stabilized to such as ecosystem services, manure and so on. It
between 0 percent and 10 percent since 2002. is therefore likely to be grossly underestimated. In
a study carried out in 2017 to estimate the value
of livestock to the Malawi economy, it was found
Agriculture (crops, livestock, forestry and fishing) that the livestock sector contributed about 24.99
contributed about 22.4 percent to the 2019 national percent to the national economy, almost as much
GDP (Table 5). Most of this contribution (93.7 percent, as the contribution of the whole agriculture sector
representing 21 percent of national GDP) was from

TABLE 5: CONTRIBUTION OF AGRICULTURE TO NATIONAL GDP IN 2019

Item description GDP in percent Of percent Of

millions of national Agriculture
USD1 GDP
National GDP 9 502.3 100
Agriculture 2 133.2 22.4 100.0
Crop and animal production, hunting and
1 999.2 21.0 93.7
related service activities
Crop production 1 370.1 14.4 64.2
Animal production 629.1 6.6 29.5
Forestry and logging 12.1 0.1 0.5
Fishing and aquaculture 121.9 1.3 5.7
Source: National Statistical Office (NSO) of Malawi. 2020. The Fifth Integrated Household Survey (IHS5)
2020 Report (No. 5), Integrated Household Survey. Zomba.
1
Average exchange rate for the period is 1 USD = 745.54 MWK

11 |
(28.57 percent) (Afrique Emergence Conseil, 2017). The report recommended that DAHLD and NSO
The computations used to estimate the livestock should consider revising the national accounting
contribution in the report were different from those methodology for livestock to ensure that livestock
used in the national accounts but were reported have a fairer share in the national GDP. The GDP
to be a reasonably accurate representation of the per capita was estimated at 510.1 USD for the year
value of the livestock sector to the Malawi economy. 2019 (Figure 9).
FIGURE 8: AGRICULTURE GDP AS A PERCENTAGE OF NATIONAL GDP; AGRICULTURE GDP
GROWTH RATE (ANNUAL)

Source: National Statistical Office (NSO) of Malawi. 2020. The Fifth Integrated Household Survey (IHS5)
2020 Report (No. 5), Integrated Household Survey. Zomba.

FIGURE 9: MALAWI GDP PER CAPITA (BASED ON CONSTANT 2017 PRICES USD)

Source: Government of Malawi. 2018. National Agricultural Investment Plan (NAIP) (Strategic Plan).
Government of Malawi, Lilongwe.

| 12
3. Animal production levels
A wide range of different conventional and non- 3.1 Major livestock species
conventional livestock species are found in Malawi.
According to Malawi’s national Agricultural The 2020/2021 APES figures show that Malawi had
Production Estimates (APES), livestock populations 1 959 101 cattle; 11 104 382 goats; 373 715 sheep; 9
for the major species (cattle, sheep, goats, pigs and 312 073 pigs and 216 342 218 chickens. The livestock
chickens) have been increasing in recent years. population figures for chickens and the rest of the
species can be visualized in Figure 10 and Figure 11,
respectively.

FIGURE 10: TRENDS IN NUMBERS OF CHICKENS IN MALAWI FROM 2011/2012 TO 2020/2021

Source: FAO. 2021. FAOSTAT database. Food and agriculture data. [Link]

13 |
FIGURE 11: TRENDS IN NUMBERS OF THE MAJOR LIVESTOCK SPECIES EXCEPT FOR CHICKENS IN
MALAWI FROM 2011/2012 TO 2020/2021

Source: FAO. 2021. FAOSTAT database. Food and agriculture data. [Link]

3.2 Non-conventional livestock species guinea pigs, doves and ducks. The populations of
these livestock species in 2021 are given in Figure 12.
Several non-conventional livestock species are kept A few farmers keep quails, especially in urban and
in Malawi, including rabbits, guinea fowls, turkeys, peri-urban areas.

FIGURE 12: TRENDS IN NUMBERS OF NON-CONVENTIONAL LIVESTOCK SPECIES IN MALAWI

FROM 2011/2012 TO 2020/2021

Source: FAO. 2021. FAOSTAT database. Food and agriculture data. [Link]

Bee keeping is a common traditional agricultural and Dedza (Total Transformation and Agribusiness
activity in Malawi, especially in natural forest (Pty) Ltd, 2008). The major product produced in
reserves and around large mountains such as Mulanje Malawi is honey and the by-product is beeswax.

| 14
Other products include propolis, bee venom, royal and 90 metric tonnes, against a demand of about 200
jelly and bee brood. Bee production in Malawi metric tonnes (Africa eats, 2020).
is done by many small-scale producers, usually
trained by non-governmental organizations, and 3.3 Farmed wildlife species
a few medium- to large-scale producers, including
Kawalazi Estate Ltd (Nkhatabay); Chimpeni
Estate (Zomba); Satemwa Tea Estate (Thyolo) and Farmed wildlife species in Malawi include crocodiles
Chiwogoro Apiaries (Mzuzu). The estimated honey and ostriches. A list of the major crocodiles farms in
production level as of 2019/2020 was between 60 Malawi is given in Table 6.
TABLE 6: CROCODILE FARMS IN MALAWI

Farm Location Enterprise type

Nyika Crocodile Salima Ranching
Shire Valley Crocodiles Chikhwawa Ranching
Chiwale Crocodile Thyolo Ranching
Koma Croc Mangochi Ranching

Source: FAO. 2021. FAOSTAT database. Food and agriculture data. [Link]
3.4 Major livestock breeds and breed Malawi is given in Figure 13. Most cattle in Malawi
conservation status (94 percent) are beef cattle, of which majority (98
percent of beef cattle and 91 percent of all cattle)
are Malawi Zebu. Dairy cattle represent 6 percent
Except for cattle and chickens, most of the livestock of the national cattle herd, and 77 percent of them
species in Malawi comprise indigenous or regional are crosses. Sheep breeds include local sheep and
breeds which are not at risk (locally or internationally) Dorper sheep. Goat breeds include local breeds (like
as given in Table 7. The APES figures do not capture the Small East African goats) and Boer. Pig breeds
individual breed numbers except for cattle. include local pigs, Landrace, Large White and
Tristar. Chicken breeds include local ecotypes, Black
The distribution of the major livestock breeds in Australorp, Cobb 500 and Ross.
the agricultural development divisions (ADDs) of

TABLE 7: BREEDS OF MAJOR LIVESTOCK SPECIES IN MALAWI

Species Breed Purpose Origin Distribution Population Local risk*

Cattle Malawi Zebu Meat Indigenous Countrywide 1 785 964 Not at risk
(MZ)
Brahman Meat Exotic Shire Valley 24 740 Not at risk
and Machinga
Brahman Meat Exotic Countrywide 14 390 Not at risk
Crosses
Bonsmara Meat Exotic Mzuzu 36 Endangered
Bonsmara Meat Exotic Mzuzu and 831 Vulnerable
Crosses Salima
Boran Meat Exotic Blantyre 5 Critically
endangered
Santa Gertrudis Meat Exotic Shire Valley 2 607 Not at risk
Beef Master Meat Exotic Shire Valley 2 671 Not at risk
Brangus Meat Exotic Blantyre 54 Endangered
Holstein/Friesian Dairy Exotic Countrywide 29 272 Not at risk
(HF)
HF-MZ Crosses Dairy Exotic Countrywide 96 664 Not at risk

15 |
 Species Breed Purpose Origin Distribution Population Local risk*
Goats Malawi Goat Meat Indigenous Countrywide 11 061 875 Not at risk
Sheep Indigenous Meat Indigenous Countrywide 372 063 Not at risk
Pigs Indigenous Meat Indigenous Countrywide 9 262 178 Not at risk
Tristar, Landrace Meat Exotic Countrywide 2 374 679 Not at risk
Chickens Indigenous Meat Indigenous Countrywide 82 878 774 Not at risk
(Dwarf, Frizzle,
Other)
Ross Meat Exotic Countrywide 120 366 870 Not at risk
White Leghorn; Eggs Exotic Countrywide 9 815 275 Not at risk
Cobb 500
Black Australorp Dual Exotic Countrywide 2 552 622 Not at risk
* Based on numbers of mature animals, as defined by the IUCN (IUCN, 2019)

FIGURE 13: DISTRIBUTION OF THE MAJOR LIVESTOCK BREEDS IN THE AGRICULTURAL

DEVELOPMENT DIVISIONS (ADDS) OF MALAWI

Source: FAO. 2021. FAOSTAT database. Food and agriculture data. [Link]

| 16
3.5 Breed conservation programmes 3.6 Livestock units and value of
livestock and livestock products
s animal genetic resources constitute a very important
treasure that requires conservation, despite not Nationally, Malawi has about 5 977 705 tropical
being thoroughly characterised (Nyamushamba et livestock units (TLUs) valued at approximately 1
al., 2016). The indigenous breeds have adapted to 282 872 587 United States Dollars (USD)1. Lilongwe
the local environment, and their conservation is of ADD has the highest number of TLUs (1 676 235),
utmost importance. Some indigenous breeds have while Karonga has the lowest (164 365), as shown
unique features that increase their cultural values, in Figure 14. Figure 15 shows the average amount
and their conservation has even more benefits. of TLUs per household for each ADD. The TLU
averages are comparable across most of the ADDs
As of July 2021, Malawi did not have a gene bank for (above 1.5 TLU), except for Machinga ADD, where
animal genetic resources. However, there are efforts the value is much lower (0.895 TLU). This could
to conserve the gene pool for the major breeds, be because Machinga is one of the ADDs with the
especially the Malawi Zebu, via ex-situ conservation. largest number of households (approximately 18
This is mostly done at the Department of Animal percent of all households against an expected 12.5
Health and Livestock Development (DAHLD) cattle percent if the households were evenly distributed
ranches at Dzalanyama in Lilongwe District and among ADDs).
Diamphwe in Dedza and Lilongwe Districts, as well
as at Department of Agricultural Research Services
(DARS) research stations such as Mbawa in Mzimba 1 Estimated at about 214.6095448 USD / TLU, with the
District and Chitala in Salima District. exchange rate 1 USD = 745.54 MWK
FIGURE 14: TROPICAL LIVESTOCK UNITS (TLU) BY ADD

Source: FAO. 2021. FAOSTAT database. Food and agriculture data. [Link]

17 |
FIGURE 15: AVERAGE AMOUNT OF TROPICAL LIVESTOCK UNITS (PER HOUSEHOLD)

Source: FAO. 2021. FAOSTAT database. Food and agriculture data. [Link]

3.7 Livestock products and value of tonnes) were 829 432; 194 616; 7 560 677 and 13 361,
products respectively. The corresponding values of meat,
milk, hides/skins and eggs (in USD) were 1 800
722 896; 182 729 258; 6 125 290 426 and 1 792 201,
Table 8 shows the levels of production of major respectively. Overall, the animal products had a
animal products (meat, milk, eggs, and hides/ skins) value of approximately 8 110 534 781 USD. The value
for each of the major livestock species estimated of skins from goats was higher than that of any of
from the 2020/2021 APES livestock figures. Estimate the other products, resulting directly from the large
production of meat, milk, hides/skins and eggs (in number of goats in the country.

| 18
 TABLE 8: ANIMAL PRODUCTION ESTIMATES AND THEIR VALUES

Species Type Breed Meat Milk Hides / skins Eggs

Production Value Production Value Production Value Production Value
(tonnes) (USD) (tonnes) (USD) (tonnes) (USD) (tonnes) (USD)
Cattle Beef Malawi Zebu 51 658 185 211 83 501 78 400 773 418 836 339 320
084 337
Brahman (Pure) 1 117 4 005 870 6 463 6 068 636 1 759 1 425 156

Brahman 984 3 527 956 378 354 911 4 819 3 904 118
(Crosses)
Bonsmara (Pure) 2 7 171 14 11 342
Bonsmara 23 83 897 346 324 865 174 140 966
(Crosses)
Boran 2 1 620
Santa Gertrudis 121 373 286 908 852 536 34 27 545

Beef Master 124 382 542 930 873 193 68 55 090

Dairy Pure 2 018 6 224 840 35 347 33 188 298 11 436 9 265 059
Crosses 4 486 13 840 006 66 743 62 666 047 33 622 27 238 978

Goats 68 666 184 203 6 927 182 5 612 063

516 773
Sheep 1 830 4 909 300 162 731 131 836
441
Pigs Indigenous 162 978 284 185
206
Small-scale 196 353 342 381
exotic 867
Commercial 31 294 54 567 268
exotic

19 |
| 20
Species Type Breed Meat Milk Hides / skins Eggs
Production Value Production Value Production Value Production Value
(tonnes) (USD) (tonnes) (USD) (tonnes) (USD) (tonnes) (USD)
Chickens Indigenous 103 302 242 480 10 907 1 462 949
125
Broilers 152 373 357 664 -
212
Layers 12 175 28 579 196 1 283 172 093
Dual (Black 3 049 7 157 698 332 44 505
Australorp)
Rabbits 16 794 33 788 846 -
Guinea fowls 3,253 3 253 7 636 812 328
Turkeys 476 1 118 039 49 6 591
Pigeons/ doves 12,018 12 018 28 210 618
Ducks 4 338 10 183 543 462 62 022
Total 829 432 1 800 722 194 616 182 729 7 560 677 6 125 290 13 361 1 792 201
896 258 426

Source: FAO. 2021. FAOSTAT database. Food and agriculture data. [Link]
4. Livestock value chains in Malawi
The primary layer of the livestock value chains thereby ensuring that they have a steady market.
in Malawi comprises farmers, veterinary service
providers, feed manufactures and general input Although it has been demonstrated that farmers
suppliers. The livestock value chains are characterized may make more profits if they fatten and slaughter
by having many small holder farmers against few or sell the fattened animals (Dzanja et al., 2013), not
downstream players, leading to a situation where many farmers engage in this enterprise, preferring
the farmers end up having very little control over instead to sell animals that have not been fattened.
prices of their products. Some value chains have Getting the farmers organized into cooperatives has
farmers organized into farmer organizations aimed been suggested as a practical way of increasing the
at increasing farmers’ power in the value chains, but farmers’ benefits in the beef value chain.
generally, even these farmer organizations tend to
depend on external support from the civil society
TABLE 9: LIST OF THE MAIN BEEF ABATTOIRS
and government for their voices to be held. It is
generally believed that livestock businesses have a IN MALAWI
promising potential as viable enterprises that can
help lift people out of poverty, but the value chains Abattoir District
are structured so that it is not easy for farmers to Balaka Beef Abattoir Balaka
reap maximum benefits for their enterprises. Despite
the growing demand for animal products, farmers CNB Beef Abattoir Lilongwe
cannot produce enough to meet the demand due to
Africa Cattle Ranch Limited Blantyre
farm-level technical limitations. Where farmers do
produce enough to meet the demand, the marketing Nyama World Beef Abattoir Mzuzu
structure is so complicated (to their disadvantage)
that they end up making losses, thereby suppressing Beef Co Limited Lilongwe,
further improvement of production, and the value Blantyre
chains are caught in a vicious circle. Muhammad Butchery Centre Blantyre

4.1 Beef value chain Shire Valley Halaal Abattoir Blantyre

Farmers sell beef animals informally to individuals Source: FAO. 2021. FAOSTAT database. Food and
right at the farm gate, or to formal channels via agriculture data. [Link]
butcheries, auctions, feedlots and abattoirs. The en/#home
informal marketing channels are very unreliable,
and may be exploitative to farmers (Dzanja et al., 4.2 Goat value chain
2013).
Maganga et al (2015) reported that goats are also
The beef value chain is generally composed of many mostly marketed via informal channels, comprising
small holder farmers who supply beef animals to a individuals purchasing goats as an investment
few abattoirs and meat processors. The prices paid or for social and middlemen, who sell the goats
to farmers are considered not to be competitive to butcheries, slaughter slabs and abattoirs. The
enough for the farmers to be motivated to actively middlemen’s gross margins are generally much
participate in the value chains. The main abattoirs higher than those of the farmers.
and meat processors include the ones listed in Table
9. Most of these abattoirs purchase beef animals from
farmers. Some of them are vertically integrated: they 4.3 Pig value chain
also have farms and/or feedlots where they raise
animals for slaughter in their own abattoirs and The pig value chain is like that of goats. Phiri (2012)
then package and sell the finished products. Some reported that pig businesses are profitable, but pig
of them are also directly working with farmers productivity is highly constrained by many factors
through provision of technical expertise in beef which prevent the pig businesses from becoming
animal breeding and management and through competitive.
linking of farmers with potential investors for the
improvement of the farmers’ beef enterprises. The
farmers sell their animals to the partner abattoirs,

21 |
4.4 Dairy value chain of low milk supply, partly because over a quarter of
milk delivered at the MBGs ends up being rejected.
The Malawi dairy value chain, like that of beef, The high volume of milk going through the informal
goats and pigs, is dependent on smallholder farmers marketing channels (though partly consisting of
owning between one and four dairy cows, and mostly rejected milk) suggests that more efficient milk
found near urban areas of the three major cities: collection could help the processors get closer to
Blantyre (the southern region), Lilongwe (central their full operation capacities. Improvement of
region) and Mzuzu (the northern region). Most dairy management practices at the farm could lead
of these farmers are organized into milk bulking to higher milk production and lower milk rejection
groups (MBGs), through which they sell milk to the rates, leading to more returns to farmers and
few available milk processors (listed in Table 10). processing of larger volumes of milk.
This formal milk marketing channel ensures that
farmers have a reliable milk outlet and subsequent 4.5 Poultry value chain
regular incomes. However, milk prices are heavily
influence by the few milk processors. The poultry value chain is dominated by a few
vertically integrated operators who produce day-old
TABLE 10: LIST OF MILK PROCESSORS IN chicks, broilers, layers and even feed. Smallholder
MALAWI farmers depend on these large-scale producers
for primary inputs such as the day-old chicks and
Processor District feed. To break even, farmers need to intensify their
production, and this requires further investment.
Lilongwe Dairy (2001) Limited Lilongwe Several projects, including the Commercial
Suncrest Creameries Blantyre Agriculture for Smallholders and Agribusiness
(CASA) are trying to strengthen small and medium
Katete Farm Lilongwe enterprises to make them more competitive and
profitable (Casa Malawi Country Team, 2020).
Malawi Dairy Industries Lilongwe
Some of the challenges the large-scale poultry
Source: FAO. 2021. FAOSTAT database. Food and producers are facing include property taxes in some
agriculture data. [Link] urban areas such as Lilongwe District; requirement
en/#home for wholesale travelling license and imposition of
surcharge on hatching eggs.
Most (~80 percent) of the milk produced in Malawi
comes from the southern region (Revoredo-Giha 4.6 Cross-cutting layers of the value
and Renwick, 2016), and even the processors based
in Lilongwe do collect milk from there. No milk chains
processor collects milk from the northern region, a
situation which forces the dairy farmers in that region The livestock sector is also served by other key, cross-
to resort to relying on the informal marketing sector cutting players, such as distributers and producers
(Chitika, 2008), in which milk is sold to neighbours of livestock production equipment, both of whom
or to middlemen who resell it elsewhere. The milk frequently also service other sectors.
processors do not operate at full capacity because

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5. Animal and animal products consumption,
marketing, and trade
Livestock contribute significantly to people’s milk in Malawi stagnated at around 3.2 kg in 2018; per
nutrition security as well as livelihoods via sell of capita consumption of meat increased moderately
livestock and livestock products. One of the signs of from around 10.7 kg in 2014 to 12.7 kg in 2018 and
a thriving livestock sector is the level of consumption per capita egg consumption has been on the decline
of animal products and the efficiency of marketing of (from 1.1 kg in 2014 to 1.0 kg in 2018). The large
livestock and livestock products. Market efficiency is disparity between milk consumption based on food
defined as the degree to which market prices reflect supply (at household level) and milk consumption
all available, relevant information. A market is based on domestic supply (production + import -
considered as being efficient if all available relevant export) may be due to lack of consumption data at
information is already incorporated into the prices the household level. However, the higher measure is
of products or services, so that there is no product or not an accurate measure because it assumes that all
service over- or under-pricing. milk that is available for consumption is consumed,
and that other non-food uses, losses and processing
5.1 Consumption of animal products are insignificant.

One of the important roles of livestock in provision Figure 16 shows the contribution of different species
of food and contribution to the nutrition security of to total meat consumption. Poultry and pig meat
households. The FAO Food Balance Sheets figures remain the dominant meat sources in Malawi. The
show that per capita per year consumption level of higher preference for pig meat may because pork is
generally cheaper than other meat products.

23 |
FIGURE 16: PER CAPITA CONSUMPTION, IN KG, OF MAJOR LIVESTOCK PRODUCTS (MEAT, MILK
AND EGGS)

Source: FAO. 2021. FAOSTAT database. Food and agriculture data. [Link]

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FIGURE 17: COMPOSITION OF PER CAPITA CONSUMPTION OF MEAT PRODUCTS BASED ON FOOD
SUPPLY

Source: FAO. 2021. FAOSTAT database. Food and agriculture data. [Link]
The consumption level of livestock products in to be high. This is not easy to achieve, especially if
Malawi is among the lowest in Africa and the the livestock are the sole source of livelihood for the
world. In the case of milk, current per capita milk household. Low consumption of livestock products
consumption in Africa is around 37 litres, while that is a wake-up call for the industry to address issues
of the world is around 104 litres. Recommended making it difficult for livestock to fully contribute to
per capita milk consumption is 278 kg, based on nutrition security.
recommended daily intake of 732 ml (McGuire,
2011). Higher consumption of livestock products 5.2 Marketing
is associated with higher purchasing power (since
not all consumers are producers). However, even
among households with lower purchasing powers, Prices of livestock and livestock products around
it is possible for consumption of animal products July 2021 were as given in Table 11.

TABLE 11: PRICES OF LIVESTOCK AND LIVESTOCK PRODUCTS

Livestock Product Unit Average price (USD)

Cattle Live animals2 number 335.20
Cattle Beef kg 2.93
Cattle Milk litre 0.623
Goat Lives goat number 40.24
Goats Goat meat kg 3.59
Sheep Live sheep number 40.24
Sheep Mutton kg 3.59
Pigs Live pigs number 201.2
Pigs Pork kg 2.68
Chickens Live chickens number 4.69
Chickens Day-old chicks number 0.34
Chickens Chicken meat kg 2.68
Poultry Eggs 30-egg tray 3.73

Source: FAO. 2021. FAOSTAT database. Food and agriculture data. [Link]
2
The price for lives animals assumes mature adult animals, unless otherwise specified.
3
Farm gate

25 |
5.3 Import and export trade of the capacity to produce competitive products
(Rensburg et al., 2018).
Malawi belongs to many trading blocks, including
COMESA. Under the COMESA Treaty, all goods Malawi traded in livestock, livestock products, feeds
may be traded among member states under and veterinary supplies with various partners up to
preferential treatment if they satisfy the prescribed around 226 million USD between 2011 and 2020.
rules of origin. The SADC Trade Protocol calls for Most of Malawi’s trade was in animal products
the establishment of a SADC Free Trade Area that (Figure 18).
FIGURE 18: VALUES OF LIVESTOCK, LIVESTOCK PRODUCTS, FEEDS AND VETERINARY SUPPLIES
IMPORT AND EXPORT TRADE IN THE PERIOD 2011-2020.

Source: FAO. 2021. FAOSTAT database. Food and agriculture data. [Link]

stipulates the gradual elimination of tariffs between Major trading partners (by value of trade)
member states. Malawi’s intraregional trade is not included South Africa (30 percent), Zimbabwe (17
a very strong component of its exports, mostly due percent), Ireland (14 percent), Zambia (12 percent),
to Malawian exporters’ being unable to fully benefit Netherlands (4 percent), Malaysia (3 percent),
from preferential market access because of the lack Mozambique (3 percent), United Kingdom of Great
FIGURE 19: VALUES OF LIVESTOCK, LIVESTOCK PRODUCTS, FEEDS AND VETERINARY SUPPLIES
IMPORT AND EXPORT TRADE BETWEEN MALAWI AND HER MAJOR TRADING PARTNERS IN THE
PERIOD 2011-2020.

Source: FAO. 2021. FAOSTAT database. Food and agriculture data. [Link]

| 26
Britain and Northern Ireland (3 percent), United New Zealand, South Africa, and the United Arab
Republic of United Republic of Tanzania (2 percent), Emirates. Other products such as butter, buttermilk,
New Zealand (2 percent), Kenya (2 percent) and whey, frozen beef and feeds (especially fish and
Belgium (1 percent) (Figure 19). meat meals) were regularly imported from South
Africa. Veterinary vaccines were regularly imported
Malawi was a net importer for most of these countries from Netherlands, South Africa, United Republic
but exported substantial quantities of livestock and of United Republic of Tanzania and Zambia. Live
livestock products to Mozambique (Figure 20). The poultry (mostly day-old chicks) were regularly
major product exported to Mozambique was live imported from Zambia. Table 12 shows Malawi’s
poultry (mostly day-old chicks). Malawi regularly top trading partners for different livestock, livestock
imported milk (sweetened or unsweetened; products, animal feeds and veterinary supplies in
concentrated or unconcentrated) from South the 4 years prior to this report (2017-2020).
Africa, Belgium, Ireland, Malaysia, Netherlands,
FIGURE 20: MALAWI’S VOLUME OF TRADE WITH MOZAMBIQUE

Source: FAO. 2021. FAOSTAT database. Food and agriculture data. [Link]
TABLE 12: MALAWI’S TOP TRADING PARTNERS FOR DIFFERENT LIVESTOCK, LIVESTOCK
PRODUCTS, ANIMAL FEEDS AND VETERINARY SUPPLIES IN THE 4 YEARS PRIOR TO THIS REPORT
(2017-2020)

Commodity Trading partner Trade Trade value (USD, thousands)

2017 2018 2019 2020
Live poultry World Import 1 118 1 573 1 547 1 894
(Mostly day- South Africa Import 271 264 641 834
old chicks)
Zambia Import 398 413 387 606
Zimbabwe Import 106 0 440 453
Netherlands Import 289 452 0 0
Live poultry World Export 109 61 177 629
(Mostly day- Mozambique Export 32 61 177 629
old chicks)
Zimbabwe Export 59 0 0 0
Flours, meals, World Import 214 526 174 247
pellets
South Africa Import 212 427 149 45
Zimbabwe Import 0 0 0 199
Brazil Import 0 37 25 3
Paraguay Import 2 51 0 0

27 |
 Commodity Trading partner Trade Trade value (USD, thousands)
2017 2018 2019 2020
Butter World Import 437 150 304 538
South Africa Import 322 130 302 487
United Arab Emirates Import 77 0 0 0
Argentina Import 0 0 0 47
Zambia Import 23 10 0 0
Buttermilk World Import 1 134 1 342 1 473 1 351
South Africa Import 1 102 1 321 1 437 1 259
Zambia Import 28 20 34 32
Zimbabwe Import 4 0 0 57
France Import 1 0 0 1
Cheese World Import 1 039 975 1 083 1 224
South Africa Import 980 942 1 049 1 123
Zimbabwe Import 7 6 4 79
France Import 36 10 24 12
Denmark Import 9 1 1 1
Milk and cream World Import 1 175 1 957 1 241 842
South Africa Import 1 035 1 900 1 168 795
Zimbabwe Import 103 46 71 48
Zambia Import 17 8 0 0
Egypt Import 13 0 0 0
Milk and cream World Import 9 311 9 492 5 189 6 056
(Concentrated Ireland Import 5 345 3 421 2 249 2 343
or sweetened)
South Africa Import 1 197 1 557 847 1 114
Malaysia Import 1 063 1 718 289 312
Belgium Import 755 716 394 15
Whey World Import 8 10 18 86
South Africa Import 8 4 10 37
Türkiye Import 0 0 0 25
India Import 0 0 0 24
Norway Import 0 0 8 0
Eggs World Import 214 797 411 575
Zambia Import 139 385 181 456
Netherlands Import 75 376 0 0
Zimbabwe Import 0 0 197 83
United Kingdom of Great Import 0 24 33 6
Britain and Northern
Ireland

| 28
 Commodity Trading partner Trade Trade value (USD, thousands)
2017 2018 2019 2020
Frozen beef World Import 190 57 9 8
South Africa Import 155 56 9 6
United Kingdom of Great Import 34 0 0 0
Britain and Northern
Ireland
Zambia Import 1 1 0 1
Pork World Import 403 276 205 376
South Africa Import 367 245 163 246
Zimbabwe Import 15 7 42 127
Zambia Import 21 24 0 1
Mozambique Import 0 0 0 1
Sheep and goat South Africa Import 33 17 4 1
meat
Cattle World Import 294 36 18 0
South Africa Import 263 36 0 0
Kenya Import 30 0 18 0
Mozambique Import 0 0 1 0
Horses World Import 8 1 3 1
Zimbabwe Import 7 0 1 1
Zambia Import 0 1 2 0
Pigs Zambia Import 0 0 16 0
Sheep and goats South Africa Import 30 69 0 0
Vaccines World Import 2 254 2 419 2 287 2 790
South Africa Import 1 336 1 530 1 275 1 709
Botswana Import 69 202 442 293
Netherlands Import 138 141 127 199
India Import 97 146 147 169
Source: FAO. 2021. FAOSTAT database. Food and agriculture data. [Link]

5.4 Animal and animal product and passed yet.

traceability
A pilot traceability platform for tracing beef cattle
One of the challenges Malawian livestock and from the farm through the abattoir to retailing
livestock products are facing in regional and points was implemented by Afrisphere in the
international markets is lack of animal and animal northern region of Malawi, with support from the
product traceability for animals and animal products Millennium Innovation Challenge Fund (Malawi
produced in Malawi. A system of animal and animal Innovation Challenge Fund, 2018). This approach
product traceability requires that the country should can be adopted for specific animal products in the
have animal identification and recording legislation, interim. Information technology can be harnessed to
which would assist with following animals from make traceability systems easier, more effective and
“farm to fork”. Such legislation was drafted more user-friendly (Mwanga et al., 2020).
(Hoffmann et al., 2009) but has not been approved

29 |
6. Livestock production systems
Livestock are raised in diverse production exclusion of) external markets. The production
environments in Malawi. Except for commercial systems can be described in terms of the level of
farms, livestock are generally raised in mixed crop- intensity of production, as reported by Chintsanya
livestock systems, which are characterized by more et al (2004): high-input; medium input and low
crop-livestock interactions (Sneessens et al., 2019), input production systems. Specific enterprises are
resulting into reduced dependence on (but not total summarized in Table 13.
TABLE 13: SUMMARY OF LIVESTOCK PRODUCTION SYSTEMS IN MALAWI

System Production Distribution Proportion Major characteristics Major breeds

enterprises of national
livestock
population
High- Beef Shire Valley 2.2 percent Large-scale fattening Mostly Malawi
input in feedlots Zebu
system
Limited activity in the
smallholder sector
Dairy Near urban 1.5 percent Variable, but high Mostly
centres levels of management Holstein-
Friesian, with
Smallholder farmers some Ayrshire
with 2-4 dairy cows, and Jersey
organized into milk
bulking groups
Pig Near urban 3 percent Large White
centres and Landrace
Poultry Near urban 60.2 percent Intensive Cobb and Ross
centres management
Medium- Dairy Near urban 4.9 percent Mixed farming. Mostly Malawi
input centres Zebu crosses
system Cut and carry feeding with Holstein-
regimes Friesian
Pigs Near urban 22.5 percent Confined Landrace,
centres Large White
Fed on locally and their
available feeds crosses with
the indigenous
species
Poultry Near urban 1.2 percent Free range Black
centres with occasional Australorp
supplementation and crosses
of the breeds
with local
chickens

| 30
 System Production Distribution Proportion Major characteristics Major breeds
enterprises of national
livestock
population
Low-input Beef Countrywide 91.4 percent Free range in the dry Malawi Zebu
system season

Restricted grazing in
the rain season

Tethering in the
northern region
Small Countrywide 100 percent Free range in the dry Small East
ruminants season African goats;
local sheep
Tethering in the rain breeds
season
Pigs Countrywide 74.5 percent Free range Local breeds
Poultry Countrywide 38.6 percent Free range with no Local chickens;
supplementation Black
Australorps

Source: FAO. 2021. FAOSTAT database. Food and agriculture data. [Link]

31 |
7. Animal feeds and feeding
The livestock sector in Malawi mostly depends grass (Chloris gayana) and Napier grass (Pennisetum
on natural and locally made feeds. The low-input purpureum). Rhodes grass is naturally abundant in
livestock production sector mostly depends on the northern and central regions but can also be easily
grazing and free-range system of feeding. This is established anywhere. Napier grass is generally
especially true for village poultry, village pigs, and grown by dairy farmers, and does well near dambos,
the ruminants. Very few farmers do conserve feed in so its cultivation is not as widely distributed as that
form of hay and silage, while crop residue grazing of Rhodes grass.
and collected crop residues provide up to 40 percent
of the cattle and goats feed intake during the dry 7.3 Agro-industrial by-products used as
season (Homann et al., 2013). However, in some
areas, crop residues have highly competing multiple animal feed
uses, including as fuel and for covering soils in
conservation agriculture. The agro-industrial by-products used for feeding
livestock in Malawi are generally locally produced,
There is utilisation of formulated feeds in the and are therefore determined by the type of crops
medium-input production systems, especially in Malawi. The major agro-industrial by-products
for dairy, poultry and pig producers. Among include seed cakes made from cotton and soya.
smallholder dairy farmers, maize bran constitutes
a major feed component (Baur, Tabin, et al., 2017). 7.4 Feed prices
Use of formulated feeds is a norm for large-scale
commercial livestock producers. There are many Feed prices in Malawi are high, even considering
producers of livestock feeds catering for the major a general reduction which was agreed between
livestock species, but the sector with the largest the Ministry of Trade and the poultry industry in
demand for feeds is the poultry sector. September 2020. Major drivers of the feed prices
include 1) escalating costs of key inputs (especially
7.1 Major grazing and browsing maize and soya beans); 2) a 16.5 percent value-
resources and their distribution added tax imposed on feed supplements and
locally processed soybean cake and 3) escalating
transportation costs due to increases in fuel prices.
Major grazing resources include dambo and
wetlands, which are widely distributed throughout
the country, and open woodlands and forests, which 7.5 Feed manufacturers
are especially abundant in the northern region and
the Upper Shire Valley areas (Reynolds, 2006). Table 14 shows some of the feed manufacturers in
Malawi. Most of them are based in metropolitan
7.2 Major cultivated grass species and areas of the commercial capital (Blantyre) and the
capital city (Lilongwe).
their distribution
The most widely cultivated grass species is Rhodes

| 32
TABLE 14: LIST OF FEED PROCESSORS IN MALAWI

Feed Location Note

Manufacturer
Lenzie Mills Lilongwe Feed producing arm of Charles Stewart
Proto feeds Blantyre Also markets day old chicks, veterinary drugs and equipment
through a network of ProtoShops.
Transglobe Blantyre An agriculture trade and exporting arm of locally based Tayub
Corporation. Also processes grains for human consumption.
CP Feeds Lilongwe Feed producing arm of Central Poultry.
Hua Feng Blantyre Chinese farm input and machinery company.
Ndatani Premier Lilongwe Malawian company selling a range of stock feeds. Participated in
Feeds a research project on integration of cassava into poultry feed.
Graintech Blantyre Process grains for sale as human and animal feed
Granite Blantyre Smaller Malawian company selling a range of stock feeds.
Prescorp Mangochi Smaller Malawian company selling a range of processed grains.
Thanzi Lilongwe Smaller Malawian company selling a range of processed grains.
Source: LTS International Limited & Cardno Emerging Markets UK Limited. 2017. Sector Analysis Studies
for the Commercial Agriculture for Smallholders and Agribusiness Programme, Sector Analysis Studies
for the Commercial Agriculture for Smallholders and Agribusiness Programme.

7.6 Livestock watering energy expenditure. In addition to this, nowadays

livestock tend to be marginalized from lands with
Livestock require a lot of water for, among other things, watering points, such as dambos, because such land
drinking and cooling. Daily water requirements for is being reserved for crop production (CISONECC,
a bovine animal may range from 14.2 to 171.4 litres 2014). The Government of Malawi recognizes the
(Golher et al., 2021), depending on its size, lactation importance of watering animals, and the NAIP
status and other factors. Livestock therefore need to (Government of Malawi, 2018) has a strategic goal
have almost ad lib access to water or be very near a to sustainably manage and use water resources by,
water source. Unfortunately, except during the rainy among other things, establishing 1500 watering
season, access to water is very limited or difficult to points for livestock. There is need to advocate for
the larger livestock. They must trek long distances to deliberate policies to increase access of livestock to
get to watering points, which leads to unnecessary clean drinking water.

33 |
8. Animal health
Livestock in Malawi are affected by many diseases problem. Baur et al (2017) reported that about 39.5
and parasites. This is mostly because the country, percent of farms in Malawi are affected by mastitis.
like many other countries in the tropical regions, There have been reports of cases of EUS in the
has many environmental conditions favourable for central and corthern regions. Surveillance and
the proliferation of many pathogens and parasites. mapping exercises were done in Mchinji and the
Some diseases and parasites are especially prevalent neighbouring districts along the river system of Bua
in the country because of the abundance of vectors and Rusa rivers while surveillance in other rivers
and/or intermediate or wild reservoirs. On top of that lead to the Lake Malawi, such as in and Rumphi
the favourable conditions for pathogen and parasite in the Northern, is on-going.
proliferation, many of the livestock management
practices, such as free-range grazing, tend to put 8.2 Other diseases and parasites
animals at higher risk of getting infected with
pathogens or getting infested with parasites.
There are other diseases that have been reported
to be causing economic damage in different
8.1 Major diseases livestock species, but their prevalence has not been
properly documented. In poultry, Kanyama and
The major diseases reported in Malawi are as Gondwe (2013) reported either high mortality rates,
given in Table 15. Majority of the reported cases of reduced production or both in chickens from such
anaplasmosis and heartwater are for cattle. diseases as pneumonia, coccidiosis, coryza. Other
diseases of importance include hardware diseases.
TABLE 15: MAJOR DISEASES REPORTED IN Prevalent parasites include Ctenocephalides sp.,
MALAWI Trichodectes sp. and ticks in dogs (Alvåsen et al.,
2016); trypanosomes (Bossche et al., 2000; Chimera et
Disease Species affected al., 2021; Marsela et al., 2020), nematodes; helminths;
fleas and ticks.
African swine fever (ASF) Pigs
In the Malawian honeybee (Apis mellifera), notable
Anaplasmosis (BAP) Cattle and goats
pathogens and parasites include Nosema apis,
Babesiosis (BB) Cattle Melissococcus pluton and Acarapis woodi while
notable pests include the honey badger, Mellivora
East Coast fever (ECF) Cattle capensis, human vandalism, army ants, Dorylus
Epizootic ulcerative syndrome Fish spp. and wax moths Galleria mellonella and Achroia
grisella (Lloyd, 2021; Mwale, 1992). Lloyd (2021)
(EUS)
reported European foulbrood as a notable disease.
Foot-and-mouth disease Cattle
(FMD) 8.3 Outbreaks and spatial distribution
Heartwater (HW) Cattle and goats of major diseases
Lumpy skin disease (LSD) Cattle Figure 21 to Figure 27 show disease occurrence
Mastitis Cattle and vaccination statistics for the major diseases in
cattle, pigs, and chickens. Generally, there has been
Newcastle disease (ND) Birds minimal disposal of infected animals as a control
measure.
Trypanosomosis (TRP) Cattle
Figure 21 shows disease occurrence statistics for
Source FAO. 2021. FAOSTAT database. Food and ND in birds. Figure 22 to Figure 26 show disease
agriculture data. [Link] occurrence statistics for anaplasmosis, babesiosis,
en/#home ECF, FMD, LSD and HW in cattle. Generally, tick-
borne diseases (anaplasmosis, babesiosis, ECF, LSD
Malawi experiences many outbreaks of livestock and HW) have mostly been reported in the central
diseases every year, of which the major ones are and northern regions. ASF continues to occur in all
for ASF in pigs; BAP, BB, ECF, FMD, HW and LSD the three regions of the country (Figure 27).
in cattle. In dairy cattle, mastitis is a very common

| 34
FIGURE 21: DISEASE OCCURRENCE STATISTICS FOR ND IN BIRDS

Source: FAO. 2021. FAOSTAT database. Food and agriculture data. [Link]

FIGURE 22: DISEASE OCCURRENCE STATISTICS FOR ANAPLASMOSIS IN CATTLE

Source: FAO. 2021. FAOSTAT database. Food and agriculture data. [Link]

FIGURE 23: DISEASE OCCURRENCE STATISTICS FOR BABESIOSIS IN CATTLE

Source: FAO. 2021. FAOSTAT database. Food and agriculture data. [Link]

35 |
FIGURE 24: DISEASE OCCURRENCE STATISTICS FOR ECF IN CATTLE

Source: FAO. 2021. FAOSTAT database. Food and agriculture data. [Link]

FIGURE 25: DISEASE OCCURRENCE STATISTICS FOR FMD IN CATTLE

Source: FAO. 2021. FAOSTAT database. Food and agriculture data. [Link]

FIGURE 26: DISEASE OCCURRENCE STATISTICS FOR HEARTWATER IN CATTLE

Source: FAO. 2021. FAOSTAT database. Food and agriculture data. [Link]
| 36
FIGURE 27: DISEASE OCCURRENCE STATISTICS FOR ASF IN PIGS

Source: FAO. 2021. FAOSTAT database. Food and agriculture data. [Link]

8.4 Zoonotic diseases in the country. Chimera et al (2021)h reported that

cattle in Malawi may be a reservoir of Trypanosoma
In Malawi, people have been reported to get infected brucei rhodesiense, which causes sleeping sickness
with rabies and cryptosporidium transmitted from in humans. These reports suggest that there are
animals, while bovine tuberculosis, brucellosis, animal diseases that may be transmitted to humans,
rabies and cryptosporidiosis have been reported although the occurrence of the transmission has not
in animals (Tebug, 2013). According to the Malawi been adequately quantified.
animal health sector, zoonotic diseases of the
greatest public health concern are rabies, bovine Rabies is a viral infectious disease of mammals
tuberculosis, brucellosis, cysticercosis, and human including humans, characterized by the development
African Trypanosomosis. of severe nervous symptoms that lead to paralysis
and death. It is endemic in most parts of the country
Njoka and Dibaba (2019) reported that bovine with occurrence of the disease each year in almost
tuberculosis occurs throughout Malawi but its all the districts. Rabies in dogs and other animals
distribution is not known, and that the prevalence of has been suspected through the presenting clinical
transmission of tuberculosis from cattle to humans signs of the dogs and samples are submitted to CVL
is not known. Webster et al (2019) found that there for diagnosis in done using Fluorescent Antibody
seems to be some hybridisation between human Technique (FAT) by different stakeholders who
(Schistosoma haematobium) and livestock (S. mattheei are also involved in the prevention and control of
and S. bovis) schistosome species, a situation that the disease and are complementing government
may lead to increased risk of zoonotic transmission effort in combating the disease in the country. The
of schistosomes to humans, especially in areas where stakeholders include Mission Rabies in the southern
schistosomiasis is endemic. Wilson et al (2020) found region, Lilongwe Society for Protection and Care
non-typhoidal Salmonella in pigs in Chikwawa, of Animals (LSPCA) in the central region and All
and reported that this discovery means that there Creatures in the northern region. However, most
is potential for zoonotic transmission of diarrhoeal rabies cases in the rural areas remain unreported
strains to humans from the pigs. Kothowa et al by the field personnel. Most of the captured cases
(2021)a cross-sectional study was conducted, from are those that have been presented to the hospital
06 January 2020 to 27 February 2020, to estimate and mostly too late for assistance. Dog and cat
the seroprevalence of brucellosis in dairy cattle vaccination is done erratically in the districts and is
herds amongst smallholder farmers, government not supported by the budgets in the districts.
and private dairy farms in the southern region. A
total of 529 serum samples were screened for anti- Adequate gauging of the potential of (and actual)
Brucella antibodies using the Rose Bengal test (RBT transmission of zoonotic diseases requires a
found that brucellosis was absent in dairy cattle in tremendous amount of planning, organization,
the southern region of Malawi, but recommended surveillance and testing, as observed for the
further studies in cattle, small livestock, wildlife and case of tuberculosis by Njoka and Dibaba (2019).
humans to document the true status of the disease Unfortunately, the Government of Malawi seems
to concentrate more on rabies than any of the other

37 |
zoonotic diseases (Tebug, 2013), perhaps because and the Global Alliance for Livestock Veterinary
of the attention civil society and animal health Medicines (GALVmed) provided support for
lobbyists place on rabies. On the other hand, Tebug increased production of the vaccine and have been
et al (2014) reported that farmers seem to have training community vaccinators go door to door
ample knowledge of the possibility of transmission to carry out vaccination of chickens at a small fee.
of diseases between humans and animals, although The Basic Services Development Agency (BASEDA)
they practice behaviours that could increase chances took over the vaccination work and facilitated the
of such transmission, especially for diseases such training of about 544 community vaccinators in
as brucellosis and bovine tuberculosis. Tebug et Lilongwe, Zomba and Phalombe and resultant
al (2014) also reported that farmers’ knowledge vaccination of about 2,750,000 chickens by 2019
about other zoonotic diseases such as brucellosis (BASEDA, 2020). The Rural Poultry Centre (RPC)
seems to be very limited, and this could mean more has also been instrumental in reaching out to more
transmission of zoonotic diseases to humans. farmers in areas such as Ntchisi and Mchinji. RPC
supported up to 184 community vaccinators (of
8.5 Vaccination and other disease which majority were women) and vaccination of
over 600,000 poultry by August 2020. The Small-scale
control measures Livestock and Livelihoods Programme (SSLLP) has
also trained community vaccinators and supported
The control measures for the major diseases include vaccination of chickens in their areas of impact.
disease notification and general surveillance for the
viral diseases and treatment and control of vectors Vaccination against diseases such as FMD and ECF
for the tick-borne diseases. Of the major diseases, are generally through government initiatives aimed
ND has the highest numbers of vaccinations every at containing the further spread of the diseases, hence
year. The exact numbers of poultry vaccinated the approximate numbers of vaccines administered
against ND are not known. I-2 vaccine is produced are known.
at the Central Veterinary Laboratory. I-2 vaccine is
a thermostable vaccine proven to be very effective Figure 28 shows vaccination statistics for ND in birds.
for preventing ND in village chickens (Acharya et There has been some vaccination against ECF in the
al., 2019; Ende, 2010). Several organizations have central region (Figure 29). The bulk of vaccinations
been working towards making the 1-2 vaccines more in cattle have been against FMD (Figure 30).
available to smallholder poultry farmers. Inter Aide

FIGURE 28: VACCINATION FOR ND IN BIRDS

Source: FAO. 2021. FAOSTAT database. Food and agriculture data. [Link]

| 38
FIGURE 29: VACCINATION FOR ECF IN CATTLE

Source: FAO. 2021. FAOSTAT database. Food and agriculture data. [Link]

FIGURE 30: VACCINATION FOR FMD IN CATTLE

Source: FAO. 2021. FAOSTAT database. Food and agriculture data. [Link]

8.6 Antimicrobial resistance achieve these outcomes by 1) raising awareness on

AMR issues; 2) carrying out AMR surveillance; 3)
Like most other countries, the Malawian population advocating for control and prevention of infections;
is at risk of developing antimicrobial resistance 4) avoiding unnecessary antibiotic dispensation; and
(AMR). Makoka et al (2012) reported that there 5) investment into sustainable AMR management
is widespread resistance to almost all of the and research. The strategy was designed so that it
antibiotics commonly used in Malawi, partly should be cross-cutting, catering for both public and
due to indiscriminate use of antibiotics in people veterinary health. The implementation of the AMR
and animals. In 2016, the Malawi Government strategy has been facing a lot of challenges including
developed an AMR strategy for the period 2017-2022 limited funding.
(Malawi Government, 2017). The broad outcomes of
the AMR strategy are 1) improved awareness and 8.7 Ethnoveterinary practices
understanding of antimicrobial resistance through
effective communication, education and training; 2) Farmers in Malawi do know about different
improved knowledge and evidence of AMR through traditional practices as well as various plants and
research and surveillance; 3) reduced incidence of other pesticidal and medicinal plant products to treat
infection through effective sanitation, hygiene and or prevent different diseases in livestock. Kaya (2007)
prevention measures; 4) assurance of sustainable reported that farmers have some ethnoveterinary
investment through research and development; and methods for treating up to 17 ailments in livestock in
5) optimal use of antimicrobials medicines in human the northern region of Malawi. For instance, Mucuna
and animal health and agriculture. The strategy will puriens and Tephrosia vogelii are used as insecticides

39 |
against external parasites, such as fleas in chickens. Central Veterinary Laboratory (CVL) in Lilongwe,
Nyirenda et al (2013) reported that Vernonia adoensis and two regional laboratories in Mzuzu and
and V. amygdalina are used to control ND in poultry. Blantyre. CVL has capacity to carry out various
The efficacy and effectiveness of most of these tests in bacteriology, virology, general pathology,
ethnoveterinary products have not been verified. protozoology and helminthology (Table 16).
Nevertheless, the importance of their use should not CVL has capacity for serological diagnosis of
be underestimated, considering that many farmers transboundary animal diseases (TADs), including
are not able to use conventional veterinary remedies FMD. It can process and analyse FMD samples
for their livestock, either due to lack of money or due within a few days. This means that confirmation of
to reduced accessibility to such remedies, especially infection can be done in the shortest time possible,
in rural communities (Mulwafu and Krishnankutty, compared to when samples had to be shipped to
2012). World Organization reference laboratories outside
the country. The laboratory does not have capacity
8.8 Capacity of national laboratory to to make FMD vaccines, which means that in case of
an outbreak, the vaccines must be imported.
diagnose animal diseases and make
vaccines
Malawi has one main veterinary laboratory, the

TABLE 16: CAPACITY OF THE CVL

Area Competencies
Bacteriology • Isolation
• Identification
• Antimicrobial susceptibility tests (AST)
• Serology (Rose Bengal)
• Biorepository
Virology • ELISA (FMD, ND, ASF, PPR, RVF)
• D-FAT (ASF, Rabies)
• HA/HI (ND)
General Pathology • Post-mortem
Protozoology • Giemsa staining
Helminthology • Simple floatation test (eggs and coccidian)
Milk quality • California mastitis test
• Butter fat (Gerber)
• Antibiotic residues (using test kit)
Toxicology • Thin Layer Chromatography (TLC)
• Biological (using lab mice)

Source: FAO. 2021. FAOSTAT database. Food and agriculture data. [Link]

| 40
9. Human resources and livestock
infrastructure
9.1 Human resources office are managed by a Principal Animal Health
and Livestock Development Officer (PAHLDO) or a
Malawi has a wide range of human resources in Senior Animal Health and Livestock Development
veterinary, animal and allied sciences in government, Officer (SAHLDO) assisted by an Animal Health and
in private practices as well as in non-governmental Livestock Development Officer (AHLDO) and several
organizations. As indicated above, DAHLD is the junior officers. The AHLDOs are an equivalent of the
primary regulator of the livestock sector in Malawi. District Animal Health and Livestock Development
DAHLD has establishments necessary to help it Officers (DAHLDOs) in the previous Malawi Public
achieve its mission. There also exist research and Service Local Government staffing structure. The
training institutions, including Mikolongwe College top two positions in the Livestock Section hierarchy
of Veterinary Science (which is part of DAHLD) (PAHLDO and SAHLDO) have not been filled yet.
and Lilongwe University of Natural Resources Some districts are not supposed to have a PAHLDO.
(LUANAR). These institutions have the capacity to
produce animal health and livestock development Each DAO is further divided into several
professionals with requisite skills to work in the (agricultural) extensions planning areas (EPAs) as
livestock sector. The Malawi Government Ministry shown in Figure 31. There is a total of 187 EPAs,
of Agriculture has the Department of Agricultural each headed by an Agricultural Extension and
Research Services (DARS), which has a Pastures Development Coordinator (AEDC), who is assisted
and Livestock Commodity group of scientists by several Agricultural Extension and Development
responsible for carrying out research in pasture- and Officers (AEDOs), each of whom manages one or
animal-related sciences. several sections within the EPA (Kundhlande et al.,
2015), and at least one assistant veterinary officer
9.1.1 Agriculture extension services (AVO). The AVOs are primarily responsible for
coordinating livestock development activities in the
EPA, but they also get assisted by and do assist the
As indicated in Section 0, each district has at least
AEDOs.
one agriculture office (DAO). Livestock issues at the

41 |
 FIGURE 31: EXTENSION PLANNING AREAS (EPAS) IN MALAWI.

Source: Kundhlande, G., Franzel, S., Simpson, B. & Gausi, E.N. 2015. Farmer-to-farmer extension
approaches in Malawi: a survey of organizations.

| 42
Each EPA has several sections, each of which is conflicting priorities or lack of coordination.
headed by an AEDO or, in some cases, an AVO.
Although AVOs are part of the DAHLD livestock To achieve these objectives, the department is
service delivery system, they are also generally strategically and functionally structured into 4
considered as part of the core extension service of the sections: 1) Animal health and field services; 2)
Malawi Government, which includes the AEDOs, animal production and livestock development; 3)
AEDCs at the EPA level, and senior extension officers research and investigation and 4) Monitoring and
at the DAO. Evaluation. The Animal Health section is responsible
for providing direction, assisting in budgeting
The Government extension worker (including AVO) for and supervising the following activities
to farmer ratio is estimated at 1:2 240, while the implemented by ADDs: vaccinations (rabies, East
extension worker to farmer ratio (which includes Coast fever, Newcastle disease); treatment of sick
non-governmental extension workers and AVOs) animals; animal health extension; producing animal
is estimated at 1:1 544 (IFPRI, 2019) against a target health technical messages for ADDs and conducting
range of 1:750 to 1:850 (Masangano and Mthinda, animal disease surveillance. The Animal Production
2012; Mulwafu and Krishnankutty, 2012). The section is responsible for providing direction,
extension worker to farmer ratio is like or better than assisting in budgeting for and supervising the
the ratios for many countries in sub-Saharan African following activities implemented by ADDs: training
(except for Kenya and Ethiopia), but the actual of farmers and field staff in improved animal
veterinary service delivery depends on more factors, husbandry practices; promotion and strengthening
including the number of veterinarians, which is very of livestock farmer groups; provision of animal
low in Malawi, estimated at 30 (25 veterinarians husbandry extension service; producing animal
in government; 5 veterinarians in private practice) husbandry technical messages for ADDs; promotion
(Vets United, 2020). of private sector participation in livestock farming
and maintenance of government livestock farms as
All extension workers are crucial for assisting a source of breeding stock as well as pasture seed.
farmers with animal production, health and The Research and Investigation section is responsible
livestock development activities. Although the for carrying out research. It also investigates and
AVOs are considered as the subject matter specialists diagnoses animal diseases. It is responsible for the
for veterinary and animal production issues, AEDOs operation of the regional laboratories as well as
and AEDCs as well as the other senior extension the main Central Veterinary Laboratory. Specific
staff have basic knowledge in animal production responsibilities include milk and milk products
and health and can, to a limited extent, help farmers quality control; animal feed quality control and
on some livestock issues that do not require certified toxicological services; inspection of abattoirs,
veterinarians. Similarly, under certain circumstances, hatcheries, dairy plants and feed manufacturers
AVOs are tasked with heading sections, and execute and management of animals under quarantine at
responsibilities beyond their core veterinary service government quarantine centres. The Monitoring and
delivery duties. However, it is very essential that an Evaluation section is responsible for: preparation of
EPA must have several AVOs dedicated to animal work plans and budget estimates for the Department;
health issues, and, preferably, at least one ALDO writing project proposals and monitoring projects
dedicated to management of animal production and and activities being implemented by the Department.
development issues.
Figure 32 shows the number staff under DAHLD
9.1.2 Core livestock extension service jurisdiction. The total number of technical staff is 85,
delivery most of whom (49) are also AVOs.

DAHLD is the department in the Malawi Government

[Link] Veterinarians
responsible for providing animal health and
livestock development and regulatory services. The Malawi has about 30 veterinarians, of which 25 are
department has veterinary, animal production and accounted for in Figure 32, and the rest are in private
other technical staff under its jurisdiction, ranging practice. This translates to a veterinarian to farmer
from Assistant Veterinary Officer (AVO) to Director, ratio is of about 1:873 214, which is among the
who heads the department. This includes staff lowest in the world (Vets United, 2020). The ongoing
working at the DAHLD headquarters, the veterinary training of veterinarians at Lilongwe University of
laboratories and the livestock farms. DAHLD also Agriculture and Natural Resources is expected to
contributes livestock staff to ADDs and DAOs, but address this problem.
these are under the jurisdictions of the respective
ADDs and DAOs. However, the ADD and DAO staff [Link] Livestock staff in DAHLD
are supposed to satisfy technical reporting and other livestock centres
reporting obligations to DAHLD. This arrangement
may affect the delivery of livestock services due to The livestock farms have among the high number

43 |
FIGURE 32: NUMBER OF TECHNICAL LIVESTOCK STAFF (FROM ASSISTANT VETERINARY
OFFICER AND ABOVE) UNDER THE DIRECT JURISDICTION OF DAHLD

Source: FAO. 2021. FAOSTAT database. Food and agriculture data. [Link]

of technical staff (28) under DAHLD jurisdiction out of 28) are AVOs. About a third of the staff are at
(Figure 33). Majority of the staff in the farms (19 Mikolongwe Veterinary Station.

FIGURE 33: NUMBER OF TECHNICAL LIVESTOCK STAFF (FROM ASSISTANT VETERINARY OFFICER
AND ABOVE) IN DAHLD FARMS

Source: FAO. 2021. FAOSTAT database. Food and agriculture data. [Link]

| 44
 [Link] Livestock staff in district The figure also shows the structure for the crops
agriculture offices section for comparison and shows that the crops
section is much more resourced in terms of subject
matter specialists than the Livestock Section. This
The Livestock Section in each DAO is supposed
is a general trend with the other sections in the
to have the staffing structure shown in Figure 34.
agriculture programme at DAO.
FIGURE 34: LIVESTOCK STAFFING STRUCTURE AT DAO

Moving from top to bottom, the second row represents programmes, while the third one represents sub-
programmes, which act as cost centres (the offices that receive funding). The positions in black and bold
are primary officer (scientist) positions, which are also entry levels for a degree holder. PAO = Principal
Agriculture Officer; SAO = Senior Agriculture Officer; AO = Agriculture Officer; PAHLDO = Principal
Animal Health and Livestock Development Officer; SAHLDO = Senior Animal Health and Livestock
Development Officer; AHLDO = Animal Health and Livestock Development Officer; SALDO = Senior
Assistant Livestock Development Officer; SAVO = Senior Assistant Veterinary Officer; AAHO = Assistant
Animal Health Officer; AVO = Assistant Veterinary Officer; ALO = Assistant Livestock Officer; AEDC =
Agricultural Extension Development Coordinator.2
Source: DAHLD
2 The entry level for the position AVO is diploma in animal health or veterinary science. The entry level for the position
AVO is diploma in animal health or veterinary science. The entry level for the position of AHLDO a Bachelor’s degree in agricul-
ture, animal or veterinary science

45 |
Figure 35 shows the number of livestock staff in the to-people ratio of 58,128. This ratio is not in favour
DAOs. As of July 2021, thirteen out of the 31 DAOs of quality veterinary services. Most of the AVOs also
(Chiradzulu, Phalombe, Dowa East, Dowa West, have mobility issues due to lack of motorbikes and
Mchinji, Dedza, Lilongwe East, Machinga, Zomba, fuel for them to serve the areas allocated to them,
Likoma, Nkhotakota, Chikwawa and Nsanje) did compared to their counterparts (AEDOs, who serve
not have AHLDOs, a situation that may have a smaller areas but are better equipped).
negative impact on the delivery of livestock services
in the affected districts. Additionally, according As of July 2021, there were 325 animal health
to the new local government staff structures (as surveillance assistants (AHSAs)3 and 112 veterinary
discussed in Section 0), each DAO is supposed to (vet) scouts in Malawi, with averages of 10.5 and
have at least 1 Senior Animal Health and Livestock 3.6 per DAO, respectively. Karonga had the highest
Development Officer (SAHLDO) and (for some number of AHSAs (40), while some districts (Likoma,
districts) 1 Principal Animal Health and Livestock Ntcheu, Mzimba North, Rumphi, Kasungu) had
Development Officer (PAHLDO). These positions none. The high number of AHSAs was due to the
had not been filled yet by July 2021. need for personnel to do disease surveillance,
especially considering the risk of transmission
Likoma, Mwanza, Neno, Thyolo and Rumphi of trans-boundary animal diseases from United
did not have any SAVOs, while Dedza, Machinga Republic of Tanzania. Less than half of the DAOs
and Mangochi had 3 each. Lilongwe West had a (Ntchisi, Mchinji, Dedza, Phalombe, Mwanza,
disproportionately large number of AVOs (18), most Chitipa, Salima, Chikwawa, Ntcheu, Rumphi,
likely due AVOs requesting to be posted near the Mzimba South, Dowa East, Kasungu and Mzimba
major urban area of Lilongwe City. The total number North) had vet scouts, with Mzimba North having
of SAVOs and AVOs under the direct jurisdiction of the highest number (21).
DAHLD and in the DAOs was 339. This translates 3 The entry level for the positions of AHSA and Vet
into an AVO-to-household ratio of 11,755, or AVO- Scout is a high school certificate (equivalent of a GCSE)

| 46
FIGURE 35: NUMBER OF LIVESTOCK STAFF IN DAOS

Source: FAO. 2021. FAOSTAT database. Food and agriculture data. [Link]
it was found that there are several issues that are
[Link] DAHLD livestock extension negatively affecting their performance, which
was about 65 percent of the performance capacity,
service delivery challenges and estimated from their ability to meet set targets. The
suggested solutions major issues included lack of funding, inadequate
staffing, low motivation, and limited mobility.
Through the surveys that were carried out to find
out about the current levels of performance, welfare [Link].1 Lack of funding
and challenges being faced by the animal health and
livestock development (AHLD) staff in the districts, Having Crop, Livestock and other sections under

47 |
the same cost centre (Agriculture, as shown in attended at least 1 interview for promotion to the
Figure 34 above) disadvantages the Livestock next level as of July 2021.
Section because traditionally, the officer responsible
for agriculture is a crops person and the budgetary FIGURE 36: PROPORTIONS OF STAFF WHO
allocations and funds disbursements are skewed STAYED AT DIFFERENT POSITIONS (AVO, SAVO,
towards crop production at the expense of livestock
AHLDO, PAHLDO OR CAHLDO) FOR DIFFERENT
production. It was indicated that funding allocated
to Livestock Sections in the agriculture offices is very PERIODS.
low compared with other sections, and even less of
this allocation gets disbursed. In the year 2020/2021,
funds disbursement in all districts (except one)
ranged from 32 percent to 48 percent of the funds
allocated. Only one district reported 100 percent
funds disbursement.
[Link].2 Inadequate staffing

A significant proportion of senior positions in

DAHLD have not been filled. These positions
include PAHDOs and SAHLDOs, both of which had
not been filled at all (since they were created) by July
2021. Also, 13 (out of 31) AHLDO positions had not
been filled by July 2021. Moreover, the current local
government staffing structure is severely limiting
the number of AVO positions in a district (since the
determination of the required number of AVOs in
an administrative area is being done at the district
level and is no longer the responsibility of DAHLD).
This means that it is becoming harder for middle
managers in the Livestock Sections to convince
the rest of the DAO to create positions that would
match the animal health and livestock development
workload. Another issue is that unlike in the other
sections where there are several officers to cover
various areas of specialisation, Livestock Sections
are given only one officer (AHLDO). This means that
the AHLDO’s duties are overstretched over multiple
specialisations (Dairy, Beef, Small Ruminants, Pigs,
Poultry, etc.), which may lead to inefficiencies and
deficiencies.
[Link].3 Low motivation

AHLD staff reported dissatisfaction with issues such

as promotions and staff housing in the Livestock
Sections. Figure 36 shows that AHLDO is the
position most affected by lack of promotions, as over
80 percent of the staff at this position have been at
that position for over 8 years. The figure also shows
that people tend to stay at the SAVO position for long
periods of time before being promoted to the next
level. It was noted that 3 to 4 years was considered
as a reasonable time for an individual to stay at one
position before being considered for promotion to
the next time. Staff at lower levels (especially at AVO Source: FAO. 2021. FAOSTAT database. Food and
and SAVO positions) did not know what could be agriculture data. [Link]
considered as a reasonable time for an individual to en/#home
stay at higher levels. This lack of knowledge about
an individual’s career path may create unrealistic The numbers in the series are the numbers of
expectations and lead to undue stress if the responses for each series.
expectations are not met. About 62.5 percent of the
AVOs and 70 percent of the AHLDOs had already About 39.6 percent of the AHLD staff live further

| 48
than 3 km from their duty stations, a situation which Secondly, more specialist officer positions such as
makes it difficult for them to perform their duties Livestock Officer (Dairy), Livestock Officer (Poultry)
effectively, given their mobility problems discussed and so on, can be created in the Livestock Sections,
below. Majority (95 percent) of the AHLD staff who as is the case in other sections. Thirdly, the number
live far away from their duty stations live in houses of AVOs can be increased towards achieving the
that are not institutional. About 73.7 percent of them desired level of AVO to farmer ratio of 1:750 to
indicated that they would be willing to live nearer 1:850 (Masangano and Mthinda, 2012; Mulwafu and
their duty stations if institutional housing were Krishnankutty, 2012). Better still, at least one ALDO
made available. per EPA can be recruited so that AVOs concentrate
on animal health while the ALDOs concentrate on
[Link].4 Limited mobility animal production. The current staffing structure
does not provide for ALDOs at the EPA level.
About 55.6 percent of the staff indicated that they
did not have any mode for mobility. Out of all the [Link] The role of community-based
staff, 8.3 percent had access to bicycles, 31.3 percent animal health workers
had access to motorbikes and 29.1 percent had access
cars. Lack of fuel and funds for maintenance were Community-based animal health workers (CAHWs)
cited as major limitations of using these modes of are members of the community (usually also livestock
transport. keepers themselves) trained in basic animal health
care (and usually livestock production) so that they
[Link].5 Suggested solutions
can assist their fellow community members with
animal health issues, especially in case the AVOs are
The opinion of staff in DAHLD and other livestock not available. CAHWs cannot perform surgeries or
stakeholders is that for the many challenges plaguing administer certain drugs, which require to be done
the DAHLD livestock service delivery system to be by a certified veterinarian. However, considering
addressed, Malawi Government should consider the low AVO to farmer ratio, CAHWs are farmers’
making livestock a separate ministry, as is the case first contact points towards solving everyday animal
in Zambia (Ministry of Fisheries and Livestock) and health problems in their areas (Leahy et al., 2017).
United Republic of Tanzania (Ministry Of Livestock This makes the CAHWs an invaluable resource in
and Fisheries), or giving it a permanent secretary the livestock sector. To highlight their importance,
so that it can have parallel structures within the organizations such as the Small-Scale Livestock and
ministry it is allocated to. Government should also Livelihoods programme have put a lot of resources
consider creating separate directorates for Animal into training CAHWs so that they are better
Health and Animal Production so that each livestock equipped to help improve the livestock industry. In
component is appropriately funded and effectively a study in Northern Malawi, Huttner (2000) showed
administered. However, substantial and effective that that users of community-based animal health
changes can be made (separately or in combination) services had livestock herds and flocks with better
within the current local government structure to performance indictors than those who did not use
address some or all the challenges. the services.
Firstly, Livestock Sections in district agriculture 9.1.3 Research and educational
offices can be made more autonomous for them to
have more say and control over budgeting issues so institutions
that the Livestock Sections can be more appropriately
funded. More funding to Livestock Sections will DARS has 12 members of technical staff, while
lead to better animal health and husbandry service LUANAR has 12 members of academic staff,
delivery, and higher livestock production. The both distributed as indicated in Figure 37. Staff at
Livestock Sections can be made more autonomous Mikolongwe college of Veterinary Sciences are
by promoting them to programme level so that they included in the DAHLD staff list.
become cost centres.

49 |
FIGURE 37: NUMBERS OF TECHNICAL LIVESTOCK STAFF IN DARS (A) AND ACADEMIC STAFF IN
LUANAR (B)

Source: FAO. 2021. FAOSTAT database. Food and agriculture data. [Link]

9.2 Livestock infrastructure 9.2.1 Infrastructure managed by

DAHLD
The livestock sector also has a wide range of
infrastructure designed to improve livestock in the The main livestock infrastructure managed by
country. The infrastructure includes infrastructure DAHLD are: 1) the 3 veterinary laboratories; and 2) 8
managed by government (through DAHLD) farms (livestock centres). The veterinary laboratories
and privately-owned entities as well as training are mandated to offer regulatory and investigative
institutions. functions for improved animal and public health.
DAHLD used to have quarantine centres but does
not have any as of 2021. People requiring quarantine
services can get them at the Centre for Ticks and
Tick-borne Diseases (CTTBD).

| 50
 [Link] The Central Veterinary institutions) for capacity building to
Laboratory strengthen animal health and production
services in the country.
The Central Veterinary Laboratory (CVL) is an ISO/ • Protecting the consumer by providing
IEC 17025:2017 certified laboratory. The mandate of veterinary public health services.
the CVL is to support the national task of controlling • Production of I-2 vaccine for control of
and eradication of animal and zoonotic diseases by Newcastle disease (although the production
fulfilling the following core functions: capacity is not high enough to meet demand
• Provision of sustainable animal disease most of the times (Boland, 2019)).
diagnostic and investigative services to
support field services in disease control. Current needs of CVL are summarised in Table 17.
• Provision of veterinary regulatory services [Link] Livestock centres
through import and export certification of
animal and animal products. The main objective of the livestock centres is to
• Conducting disease surveillance toensure that farmers in Malawi can access high
establish national animal and zoonotic grade animals for breeding, draught power, stall
disease epidemiological information for feeding and other uses. The specific objectives
preparedness and science-based decision are to 1) produce high grade breeding stock for
making and policy direction. sale to farmers; 2) produce steers for stall feeding
• Conducting demand driven Animal Health and draught power programmes by smallholder
Research to generate new technologies farmers; 3) conserve superior genetic materials
in the livestock sector with emphasis on for future breeding programmes in Malawi; 4) act
researchable areas that are commercially as demonstration and training centres for farmers
attractive and cost effective. and training institutions; 5) produce bovine semen
for artificial insemination in the dairy herd; and
• Conducting relevant training for field staff 6) produce liquid nitrogen for conservation of
and students (both public and private the semen and other products. The smallholder
TABLE 17: CURRENT CENTRAL VETERINARY LABORATORY NEEDS

Section Need
Bacteriology Institute and sustain quality control systems especially with
respect to equipment maintenance and calibration to assure
quality of results for bacteriology
Virology Procure an ELISA reader and a computer because the section is
currently relying on visual reading of results which is unreliable

Pathology Procure a computer for data capturing and management

Train staff in sample reception
Helminthology Procure a McMaster counting slide/ chamber for the section to
start conducting quantitative techniques to improve quality of
results and assist farmers better
Review of SOPs
Train staff in updated SOPs
Toxicology Procure equipment that can enable quantitative analysis of
samples to improve quality of results
Ensure that TLC plates are in stock all the time
Biochemistry Procure the right equipment for the functions to resume
Train staff to conduct the activities
I-2 vaccine Ensure that eye dropper bottles are in stock all the time
production

Source: FAO. 2021. FAOSTAT database. Food and agriculture data. [Link]

51 |
livestock sector depends on the livestock centres to Mikolongwe, each of the centres concentrates only
purchase products ranging from day-old chicks to on one or a few livestock species. Figure 34 shows
other breeding stock. If the livestock centres have the condition of the farm infrastructures in the
structures and machinery that are not functional, livestock centres. The dip tanks, feeding sheds, and
DAHLD’s delivery of these essential services to the water troughs require maintenance, although they
farmers will be impacted negatively. are mostly operational. Spray races were reported
to be in dilapidated states as of July 2021. Figure 35
Table 18 gives basic details about the livestock centres. shows that about 19 percent of farm machinery is
The centres cover a total of 107,338 ha. Except for non-functional and in need of repair.

TABLE 18: DETAILS ABOUT THE DAHLD LIVESTOCK CENTRES

Farm Location Animal types available Hectares

Bwemba Lilongwe Black Australorp 4
Choma Mzimba Black Australorp 50
Diamphwe Dedza Cattle 32 000
Dwambazi Mzimba/Nkhotakota Cattle, Goats, Sheep 6 250
Dzalanyama Lilongwe Cattle, Goats 34 000
Likasi Mchinji Cattle 2,000
Meru Chitipa Cattle, Goats 1 000
Mikolomgwe Chiradzulu Cattle, Goats, Sheep, Pigs, Chickens 3 206
Total 78 510

Source: FAO. 2021. FAOSTAT database. Food and agriculture data. [Link]

FIGURE 38: CONDITION OF FARM STRUCTURES IN THE LIVESTOCK CENTRES

Source: FAO. 2021. FAOSTAT database. Food and agriculture data. [Link]

| 52
FIGURE 39: CONDITION OF FARM MACHINERY IN THE LIVESTOCK CENTRES

Source: FAO. 2021. FAOSTAT database. Food and agriculture data. [Link]

[Link] The National Artificial forces. For instance, the price for a straw of semen
Insemination Service centre was about 2 USD as of July 2021. Subsequently, the
centre requires regular subvention from government
for it to cover its operations, especially its utility bills
The Mikolongwe Livestock Centre also hosts the
for production of liquid nitrogen.
National Artificial Insemination Service (NAIS)
centre, which is responsible for producing semen
from quality bulls for sale to farmers at reasonable [Link] Effectiveness and deficiency of
prices. As of July 2021, the centre was producing infrastructure in the livestock centres
semen from Friesian bulls. There are plans to start
producing semen from Brahman and Boran bulls With the current infrastructure and human
starting from 2022. There also plans for a breeding resources, the DAHLD livestock centres reported an
programme for the Malawi Zebu. average performance level of 41 percent (production
as a proportion of the target), as shown in Table 19.
The centre does not operate commercially, so it is not Diamphwe Cattle Ranch was the best performer at
able to recover production costs from its revenue. 83 percent (250 out of 300 steers produced annually)
This is mostly because as a public service provider, while Mikolongwe was the worst performer, with a
the centre does not use prices dictated by market composite performance of 20 percent. The Piggery

53 |
Unit at Mikolongwe was reported to be the worst to improve infrastructure (animal houses and staff
performing at 2 percent (10 pig weaners per year houses) and to purchase key pieces of equipment,
against a target of 500). For the centres to operate at including tractors. There is also a need to beef up the
their expected and/or desired capacities, there is need human resources, especially for non-skilled labour.
TABLE 19: PERFORMANCE OF THE DAHLD LIVESTOCK CENTRES WITH CURRENT HUMAN
RESOURCES AND INFRASTRUCTURE

Livestock Main Current Required infrastructure, Required human

Centre product production equipment, and resources
capacity ( materials
percent)

Dwambazi Dairy Heifers 30 Restocking; purchasing Herders; equipment

new equipment operators
(including tractor);
rehabilitation of dip tank
Steers 40 Silage chopper Livestock attendant;
herders; patrol men;
3 additional technical
officers; 40 contract
workers
Boer Goat 50 Spray race
Weaners
Dorper 83 Feeding sheds
Sheep
Weaners
Rhodes grass 32 Silage chopper
seed
Likasi Dairy cattle 50 Restocking; purchasing
new equipment
(including tractor);
automatic milking
parlour
Dorper 35 Restocking; sheep
sheep houses; small ruminants
dip tank
Boer goats 37 Restocking
Malawi Zebu 41 Pens; dip tank; additional
cattle solar-powered water
pump; staff houses
Rhodes 33 Hay baler
grass bales
Rhodes 50 Fertilizer
grass seed
Diamphwe Steers 83 Restocking; pens; Herders; security guards
dip tank; equipment
(including tractor); staff
houses; rehabilitation of
water reservoirs; solar
water pump

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 Livestock Main Current Required infrastructure, Required human
Centre product production equipment, and resources
capacity ( materials
percent)

Dzalanyama steers 40 Restocking; pens;

dip tank; new and
rehabilitation of staff
houses; equipment
(including a tractor)
Goats 37 Pens; staff houses Herders

Meru Steers 80 Restocking; equipment Herders

(including a tractor);
farm vehicle; staff houses;
offices
Goats 44 Pens
Choma Black 50 Restocking; pen Security guards; poultry
Australorp rehabilitation; security attendants
chicks fence; feed mill

Bwemba4 Black 38 Restocking; new Poultry attendants

Australorp incubator
chicks
Mikolongwe/ Black 25 Restocking; equipment Poultry officers; poultry
Poultry Australorp (including tractor, attendants
Section growers incubator); poultry
houses
Mikolongwe/ Heifers 20 Pens; milking parlour; Cattle attendants
Dairy Section hay shed; paddocks
Mikolongwe/ Weaners 20 Pens; milking parlour; Cattle attendants
Beef Section hay shed; paddocks
Mikolongwe/ Weaners 20 Pens and hay shed Herders
Sheep and
Goat Section
Mikolongwe/ Weaners 2 Pig Piggery attendants
Piggery
Section
Mikolongwe/ Semen 33 Equipment and reagents Attendants
NAIS

Source: FAO. 2021. FAOSTAT database. Food and agriculture data. [Link]

9.2.2. District infrastructure MADD, MZADD and SLADD are non-functional.

Most MBGs in BLADD and LADD seem to be
[Link] Current state working well. KRADD reported that 5 MBGs and
1 dairy processing plant were not functional. All
The state of livestock infrastructure in the districts MBGs in MADD were non-functional as of July 2021.
is given in Figure 40. Majority (95.5 percent) of the DAHLD staff in Kasungu DAO started a veterinary
reported 202 dip tanks are non-functional (Figure clinic (for DAHLD), but it was not functional as of
40). Most dip tanks in BLADD and all dip tanks in July 2021.

55 |
FIGURE 40: LIVESTOCK INFRASTRUCTURE AT NATIONAL LEVEL

Source: FAO. 2021. FAOSTAT database. Food and agriculture data. [Link]

[Link] Effectiveness of district (CTTBD) was established by the African Union to

infrastructure and suggestions for assist with the management of ticks and tick-borne
diseases in the region. CTTBD can offer quarantine
improvement services for up to 100 cattle at a time. Plans to expand
quarantine capacity are underway.
Livestock staff in the district agriculture offices
indicated that they were performing under their 9.2.4 Animal and veterinary science
capacity (65 percent) due to lack of funds and
appropriate infrastructure. The issue of funding training capacity
has already been addressed in Section [Link]. There
is an urgent need to rehabilitate dip tanks to help Malawi has two institutions with the capacity to
farmers protect their animals from ticks and other offer advanced (tertiary) training in animal and
parasites so that the animals are protected from tick- veterinary sciences. Details about the institutions are
borne diseases. Elsewhere, it has been demonstrated given in Table 20. Mikolongwe is directly funded by
that rehabilitation of dip tanks can improve animal the Government of Malawi through DAHLD, while
productivity (Masuku, 2014). There is also a need to LUANAR, as a statutory corporation, is subvented
establish livestock and livestock products markets to by the Government. Both institutions have very
help farmers have stable marketing outlets for their strong linkages with DAHLD and other players
livestock and livestock products. in the livestock industry, in and outside Malawi.
Many students from LUANAR get attached to the
DAHLD livestock centres and the CVL, where they
acquire hands-on skills to increase their capacity in
9.2.3 The Centre for Ticks and Tick- delivering high quality animal health and livestock
development services.
Borne Diseases quarantine centre
The Centre for Ticks and Tick-Borne Diseases

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TABLE 20: INSTITUTIONS OFFERING TRAINING IN ANIMAL AND VETERINARY SCIENCES IN
MALAWI

Institution College Area of training Level of training

Government of Mikolongwe Veterinary Science Diploma
Malawi College of
Veterinary Sciences
Lilongwe University Bunda College Dairy Science and Technology Diploma
of Agriculture and
Animal Science Bachelor
Natural Resources
(LUANAR) Master
Doctor
Veterinary Medicine Bachelor
Natural Resources Animal Health and Livestock Diploma
College Development

Source: FAO. 2021. FAOSTAT database. Food and agriculture data. [Link]

[Link] DARS promote industrial growth through research and

dissemination of knowledge and skills; 3) establish
DARS has livestock farms at some of its research and support science and technology innovation
stations, including at Chitedze (Lilongwe), Chitala centres of excellence for industrial production and
(Salima), Lunyangwa (Nkhatabay) and Mbawa manufacturing of value added agricultural and
(Mzimba South). It has capacity to carry out animal natural resource products; 4) develop partnerships
trials in various fields of animal sciences (feeds and with relevant industries for the generation, transfer,
feeding, nutrition, breeding, etc.). DARS livestock adoption and application of technologies and 5)
scientists frequently collaborate with other scientists promote practical university education, research
within Malawi (such as those at LUANAR) and from and training so as to respond to the needs of Malawi,
other countries. Africa and the World. The department responsible
for livestock at LUANAR is the Department of
Animal Science.
The major performance indicator for DARS with
respect to animal health and livestock development
is the number of research studies implemented The livestock infrastructure at LUANAR include the
annually. The current performance level is 12 following:
against a target of 20, representing a 60 percent
achievement. The major infrastructure required 1. Laboratories
for DARS to achieve its target of 20 studies per a. animal nutrition;
year include more and better livestock housing,
crashes, weigh bridges, feed rations, vaccines and b. animal health;
pharmaceuticals, paddocks, breeding stock as well c. animal breeding.
as additional human resources (including additional
3 animal scientists). 2. Farms
a. a students’ farm where students acquire
[Link] LUANAR hands-on skills in livestock management;

Lilongwe University of Agriculture and Natural b. a small stock unit for production of pigs,
Resources (LUANAR) formerly it was Bunda sheep and goats for research purposes;
College is a public University established in 2011. c. a small animal unit for commercial
The mission statement for LUANAR is to advance purposes (pigs, chickens, rats);
knowledge and produce relevant graduates with d. a rabbit and guinea pig unit;
entrepreneurship skills for agricultural growth,
food security, wealth creation and sustainable e. a ruminant production unit for commercial
natural resources management, through teaching, purposes (cattle, goats).
training, research, outreach, consultancy, and
sound management. The aims and objectives of 3. Other infrastructure
LUANAR include to: 1) encourage the advancement, a. slaughter slab;
dissemination and commercialization of research; 2)
b. a dairy centre.

57 |
Most of the laboratory infrastructure is either Enterprises. Most of these input suppliers (except
outdated or in need of repair. The Department of for DAHLD) supply many inputs beyond day-old
Animal Science at LUANAR frequently depends on chicks.
equipment in shared laboratories, which may not
always be available when needed. The farms are in The poultry sector is dominated by large producers
dire need of modernisation. with higher quality hardware and capacity for
up to 100,000 chickens, and a combined monthly
LUANAR does achieve its primary target of training production capacity of up to 2 million chickens.
at least 40 animal science professionals per year at The large-scale producers include Central Poultry,
Bachelor of Science level given its human resources. Kamponji Enterprises, Speedy’s, Glenae, Nyama
LUANAR has the potential to train more than the World and Kapani. Small and medium enterprise
targeted 40 BSc students per year. However, to (SME) producers include Amazon, Keggs, Dhala,
achieve this, there is need for more infrastructure Nyaluwanga, Savannah, Thanzi and Malili. Most of
such as classroom and laboratory space and the large-scale producers are vertically integrated,
equipment. meaning that they participate in every step of the
poultry value chain: they produce feed and day-old
9.2.5 Major input suppliers and chicks, they raise broilers and layers, they process
producers poultry meat and eggs, and they also market their
products. Until recently, they even participated in
retail marketing, but, with intense lobbying from
DAHLD is a major player in the beef and smallholder the civil society and SMPFA, government has made
dairy sectors. DAHLD produces Black Australorp it illegal for these big players to crowd out the
day-old chicks at Mikolongwe, Bwemba (in smallholder poultry farmers from the retail market.
Lilongwe) and Choma (in Mzuzu). DAHLD is also
a regular supplier of breeding stock such as dairy
crosses and beef cattle to smallholder farmers. 9.2.6 Veterinary service providers/
clinics
According to Casa Malawi Country Team, (2020),
key suppliers of inputs in the poultry sector include A list of veterinary service providers and veterinary
Central Poultry: Kamponji Enterprises; Amazon clinics is given in Table 21.
Poultry; Charles Stewart; Incubators Malawi; Ziweto
TABLE 21: VETERINARY SERVICE PROVIDERS AND VETERINARY CLINICS

Name Location Main products/ services

Alfa Vet Care Blantyre
ATC Lilongwe Lilongwe Medicines, vaccines, feed ingredients, feed additives
Central Veterinary Lilongwe I-2 Newcastle disease vaccine; Veterinary diagnostic
Laboratory (CVL) service
Farmers Commodities Centre Lilongwe Medicines, vaccines, feeds, feed additives
Femano Veterinary Services Lilongwe Medicines, vaccines, feed ingredients, livestock
consultancy
GSJ Animal Health and Lilongwe Medicines, vaccines
Production Ltd
Incubators Malawi Lilongwe Egg incubators
Jerin Veterinary Lilongwe Medicines, vaccines, feed ingredients, feed additives
Lilongwe Livestock Centre Lilongwe Medicines, vaccines, feed ingredients, feed additives
Mphasa Veterinary Services Lilongwe Medicines, vaccines, feed ingredients
& Livestock Consultancy
Ndatani Investments Lilongwe Medicines, feeds, feed ingredients, vaccines
Pharmavet Blantyre
Poultry World Lilongwe Medicines, vaccines, feeds, feed additives

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 Name Location Main products/ services
Royal Veterinary Service Lilongwe Medicines, vaccines, feed ingredients, livestock
consultancy
Share Care Vet Ltd Lilongwe Medicines, vaccines, feed ingredients, feed additives
Ziweto Enterprise Lilongwe Medicines, vaccines, feed additives, advisory services
Adapted from [Link] and [Link]
[Link]

9.2.7 Breeding farms and ranches SME as well as large-scale livestock enterprises.
Unfortunately, many smallholder farmers do
There are several private farms specializing in the not have access to these services (access to formal
production of breeding stock and ranches designed banking services in Malawi is estimated at 75
on an ecotourism model summarized in Table 22. percent). Moreover, most of the farmer cannot
meet the minimum requirements for getting loans,
TABLE 22: PRIVATE BREEDING FARMS AND RANCHES

Ranch/ farm Location Major products/ services

Kawandama Ranch and Mzimba Breeding stock: Boran and Brahman cattle;
Stud Dorper sheep
R and L Farms/Game Ranch Lilongwe Ecotourism
Kutif Salima Ecotourism

especially on collaterals. Microfinance services, such

9.2.8 Livestock production equipment as village banks, are helping farmers to access small
loans for their small-scale enterprises. Examples
manufacturers of microfinance institutions include MicroLoan
Malawi has several companies and many individuals Foundation ([Link]
making equipment used in livestock production. uk/about-us/); Acades ([Link]
Equipment made by small and medium enterprises and FINCA ([Link]
(SMEs) include cages, feeders and drinkers. Several
SMEs have started making more specialised Livestock insurance is not a new concept in Malawi,
equipment. Such companies include Incubators but many farmers do not use livestock insurance
Malawi ([Link] Reenack services. Most of the major insurance service
Incubators Malawi ([Link] providers in Malawi do offer agriculture insurance
reenackrarepoultryfarm/?_rdc=1&_rdr) and the Bee (implicitly covering livestock), but as is the case
Hive Group ([Link] with the formal banking services, many farmers
cannot easily access such insurance services. Some
9.2.9 Financial and insurance service organizations are working towards encouraging
providers farmers to insure their animals by bundling the
insurance service together with other livestock
information services. Chiweto ([Link]
Most of the major banks and financial service
is an example of such a company.
providers offer loans specifically tailored to boost

59 |
10. The role of livestock sector
The livestock sector is one of the fastest growing The traditional marriage custom of lobola is also still
sectors of the agricultural sectors of many countries practiced among in Malawi. Although money is
(FAO, 2018). It contributes approximately 40 percent slowly replacing the lobola payments, there are some
of the value of agricultural production globally and cultures where a mandatory payment in form of
in Southern African countries. Livestock contribute livestock has to be made (Shava and Masuku, 2019).
to household income, food, and nutrition security. Specific livestock breeds and lines are also associated
Banda and Tanganyika (Banda & Tanganyika, with people’s heritage. This is associated with the
2021) reported that livestock have many more uses existence value of the livestock (Mendelsohn, 2003).
beyond food, including both tangible and intangible Maintenance and preservation of heritage of people
benefits (Kaumbata et al., 2020), although these helps build their social capital.
are not properly valued. FAO (2018) summarized
the key roles of livestock as: 1) enhancement of 10.4 Livestock as natural capital
human capital; 2) enhancement of social capital; 3)
enhancement of natural capital; 4) enhancement of
physical capital; 5) acting as moving banks and 6) Livestock interact with their environmental in various
acting as buffers against externals shocks. Livestock ways, many of which may make the environment
are very important for enhancement of food and better, or more conducive for supporting human
nutrition security as well as for empowerment of welfare. These ecosystem services may be hard to
women. quantify, but their effects on the welfare of people
cannot be underestimated. For instance, goats
and sheep may actively feed on invasive weeds.
10.1 Livestock for enhancement of food This feeding service may go beyond the animals’
and nutrition security nutrition: it may help keep the weeds down and
prevent a weed problem that would otherwise
Livestock are a significant source of food. They are a negatively impact on crop production.
source of high quality proteins, which are essential
for human health (Grace et al., 2018). Regular 10.5 Livestock as physical capital
consumption of moderate quantities of animal
products is likely to lead to a healthier population. Livestock provide transport, draught power, and
alternative energy for households to support
10.2 Livestock for enhancement of and improve their productivity. Draught power
human capital is especially important in rural areas in Malawi.
Cattle are widely used to provide draught power in
MZADD (Kumwenda, 1999). Donkeys are frequently
Livestock help farmers to have better nutrition used for pulling carts in Lilongwe (Namangale et al.,
(Murendo et al., 2020). They enhance human 2017).
capital by making it possible for farmers to access
education, skills and health services. Subsequently,
farmers are able to (Murendo et al., 2020) have better 10.6 Livestock as moving banks
lives or have a chance to engage in other economic
activities that may help them to achieve better living Livestock provides households with income. They
standards. Livestock are therefore very essential for increase the financial capital of families, provide a
human capital development via the investment that mechanism for savings, and serve as moving banks
households make in their lives (Freeman et al., 2008; (Nandolo et al., 2016). They can be used as credit
Olowa, 2010). collateral and maybe a means for securing livelihood
goals. For example, a farmer may keep animals
10.3 Livestock for building social mainly for sale of live animals in order to get money
for constructing a house.
capital
Livestock are used for different social-cultural 10.7 Livestock for farmers’ resilience to
functions. For instance, in the villages, money may external shocks
not be used for payment of fines for certain crimes
or misdemeanours, even if money is available. In Livestock act as an important buffer against external
some cultures, only specific livestock (such as a shocks (FAO, 2018). In a study to find out the role of
white chicken) may be specified for certain rituals.

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livestock in mitigation of the effects of climate change and improved nutrition in Malawi (Murendo et al.,
in the southern region of Malawi, it was found out 2020).
that although the correlation between the number of
different types of livestock owned and the household 10.8 Livestock for economic
income was not significant, the correlation between
the number of different types of livestock owned empowerment of women
and the income from livestock was significant.
This implied that even where the contribution of Livestock are considered key entry points for the
livestock is not much, an increase in the diversity of improving the nutrition of vulnerable groups, such
the livestock species kept may alone lead to more as women (Galiè, 2019). This is because it is easy for
income (CISONECC, 2014). Livestock diversification women to control ownership of livestock than key
has been reported as crucial for resilience building assets such as land.

61 |
11. Government expenditure on livestock
11.1 Government expenditure in especially by distributing livestock to farmers in
agriculture areas where crops do not do well, such as in the
Lower Shire areas of Chikwawa and Nsanje. Future
plans are to include more livestock production
Figure 41 shows government budgetary allocation inputs, such as veterinary drugs.
from 2001 to 2020. In the 2020/2021 national budget,
agriculture was given 326.7 million USD, of which
about 42 percent was earmarked for the Affordable Malawi’s expenditure on agriculture has been
Inputs Programme (AIP), which replaced the increasing steadily since the early 2000s. Malawi
previous Farm Input Subsidy Programme (FISP). has been among the top countries meeting CAADP
Traditionally, the FISP and AIP mainly targeted targets in share of agriculture expenditure in total
main crop production inputs (Asfaw et al., 2017), public expenditure (Makombe et al., 2019), as
especially fertilizer and seeds. In the 2021/2022 shown in Figure 42 and Figure 43. This can also
proposed national budget, in which the AIP was be seen in Figure 44, which shows the proportion
projected to get about 56 percent of the agriculture of government expenditure on agriculture in total
budget, there were plans to include livestock, public expenditure.

FIGURE 41: AGRICULTURE EXPENDITURE

Source: FAO. 2021. FAOSTAT database. Food and agriculture data. [Link]

FIGURE 42: SHARE OF AGRICULTURE EXPENDITURE IN TOTAL PUBLIC EXPENDITURE

Source: FAO. 2021. FAOSTAT database. Food and agriculture data. [Link]

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11.2 The proportion of agriculture Index (AOI) for government expenditures. AOI
expenditure in national expenditure is defined as the agriculture share of government
expenditure, divided by the agriculture value added
share of GDP where agriculture refers to the crops,
The proportion of government expenditure on livestock, forestry, fishing, and hunting sector
agriculture has been increasing slightly, with the (FAO, 2015). SDG 2.a.1 aims to increase investment,
biggest change (150 percent) observed from 2006 including through enhanced international
to 2007. The gradual change in the proportion of cooperation, in rural infrastructure, agricultural
government expenditure on agriculture is very research and extension services, technology
promising for the agriculture sector. However, it has development and plant and livestock gene banks
been noted elsewhere that increased expenditure to enhance agricultural productive capacity in
on agriculture does not necessarily translate into developing countries, especially in least developed
FIGURE 43: RATE OF CHANGE OF SHARE OF AGRICULTURE EXPENDITURE IN TOTAL PUBLIC
EXPENDITURE

Source: FAO. 2021. FAOSTAT database. Food and agriculture data. [Link]

solution of problems in the agriculture sector countries. Malawi’s AOI has been increasing
(Wielechowski, 2019), although it does show that with increasing share of agriculture in public
the sector is moving in the right direction in terms expenditure, but is still below unity, which implies
of development. that government spending on agriculture represents
a smaller share of total government spending than
11.3 Malawi’s Agriculture Orientation agriculture represents in the total economy (Lowder
Index and Carisma, 2011). The optimal AOI is 1, which
means that the industry is funded according to the
value of its contribution to the GDP.
Figure 44 shows the SDG 2.a.1 Agriculture Orientation
FIGURE 44: MALAWI’S AGRICULTURE ORIENTATION INDEX (AOI, SDG 2.A.1)

Source: FAO. 2021. FAOSTAT database. Food and agriculture data. [Link]

63 |
11.4 Expenditure on livestock Part 2 of Development Funding, which is funding
from government). On average, both development
Figure 45 shows the budgetary allocation to livestock funding and other recurrent transactions (ORT)
activities since 2012, while Figure 46 shows the funding have been decreasing since 2018, despite the
rate of change of the allocation in those years. All overall increasing share of agriculture spending in
the funds allocated to livestock get used up by the the total public expenditure. This can also be clearly
end of the financial year. Except for the year 2016, seen in the proportion of livestock expenditure in
development funding represented over 50 percent agriculture (Figure 47), which has averaged 0.8
of the total government expenditure on livestock. percent from 2012 to 2020 (0.6 percent as of 2020).
Development funding increased dramatically in This is a worrying trend, as it implies that the
2017 due to inclusion of Part 1 of Development livestock sector may not be getting as much support
Funding (funding from donors, as opposed to as the other agriculture sectors, both in absolute and
relative terms.

FIGURE 45: BUDGETARY ALLOCATION TO AND EXPENDITURE IN LIVESTOCK (CONSTANT 2017

PRICES)

Source: FAO. 2021. FAOSTAT database. Food and agriculture data. [Link]

FIGURE 46: RATE OF CHANGE IN ALLOCATION TO LIVESTOCK

Source: FAO. 2021. FAOSTAT database. Food and agriculture data. [Link]

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FIGURE 47: SHARE OF LIVESTOCK EXPENDITURE IN AGRICULTURE EXPENDITURE (CONSTANT
2017 PRICES)

Source: FAO. 2021. FAOSTAT database. Food and agriculture data. [Link]

11.5 Suggested ways for increasing inputs (such as veterinary drugs and premixes)
development of the livestock industry in the AIP and further zoning so that farmers in
different areas receive input support that is both
via increased funding to the industry relevant and effective; 3) implementing structural
(administrative) adjustments aimed at ensuring
The foregoing analysis has shown that the livestock that the livestock offices in the district offices have
sector in Malawi in general is severely underfunded. more say in budgeting issues, and therefore more
It has also been shown that livestock funding in the likelihood of being appropriately funded (see Section
district livestock offices is not only small, but also [Link].5); and 4) promoting and institutionalizing
marginally disbursed. Many of the challenges the public-private partnerships to ensure that animal
industry is facing can be surmounted or at least and livestock development activities go on beyond
alleviated if funding to the sector is increased. national budgeting frameworks. There is also need
The proposed ways of increasing funding to the to support the creation and development of farmer
sector include 1) directly increasing the budgetary organizations (such as cooperatives) to increase
allocation to livestock; 2) including livestock farmers’ chances of attracting investment.

65 |
12. Livestock strategy, policy, regulation, and
legislation
The livestock sector in Malawi is very important efforts and other development efforts. The strategy
for the livelihoods of many households, and for the and policy instruments driving the Malawi livestock
economic development of the country. To ensure sector are at 3 levels: international, regional and
that the sector moves in the right direction and at an national.
appropriate speed, the sector is driven by strategy
and policy instruments at global, regional and 12.1.11 International strategy and
national levels. In addition, the sector is regulated policy instruments
and has legislation that governs how the sector
operates.
Internationally, Malawi’s livestock sector is supposed
to work towards the achievement of the Sustainable
12.1 Livestock strategy and policy Development Goals (SDGs) (FAO, 2015). Livestock
are very instrumental in the achievement of several
Malawi’s livestock sector is supposed to respond SDGs, especially 1, 2 and 12 (no poverty; zero hunger
to various global and regional strategy and and responsible consumption and production). On
policy initiatives and obligations, including the the other hand, they are considered a challenge
2030 Agenda on Sustainable Development Goals towards the achievement of other SDGs, especially
(SDGs), the African Union Agenda 2063, the those relating to environmental management
Istanbul Programme of Action (IPoA), the Vienna and health, such as SDGs 3, 6 and 13 (good health
Programme of Action (VPoA), the Southern African and well-being; clean water and sanitation; and
Development Community Regional Indicative climate action), as indicated in Figure 48. There
Strategic Development Plan (SADC/RISDP) and the is need to enhance the contribution of livestock to
Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa people’s livelihoods and well-being while at the
(COMESA) Treaty (Government of Malawi, 2017). same minimizing the negative effects of livestock
production on the environment. The emphasis is on
Specific livestock strategy and policy instruments are livestock enhancing the achievement of the SDGs
designed so that they speak to each other to avoid (FAO, 2018). The regional and national livestock
duplication of livestock development efforts and to strategies and policies are designed to align livestock
prevent antagonisms among livestock development development actions towards achieving this.
efforts and between the livestock development

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FIGURE 48: SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT GOALS (SDGS) IN WHICH LIVESTOCK PRESENT
OPPORTUNITIES OR CHALLENGES

FAO.2018. Shaping the future of livestock sustainably, responsibly, efficiently. Link: [Link]
org/3/i8384en/[Link].

12.1.2 Regional strategy and policy The AU heads of state and government reaffirmed
instruments their commitment to CAADP by adopting the
Malabo Declaration on Accelerated Agricultural
Growth and Transformation for Shared Prosperity and
Regionally, the Malawi livestock sector is supposed Improved Livelihoods, in which they reaffirmed their
to fit into the African Union (AU) Agenda 2063, commitment to uphold the CAADP principles and
which is Africa’s blueprint and master plan for values, which include enhancing investment in
transforming Africa into the global powerhouse agriculture (Makombe et al., 2019).
of the future. The sector is expected to fit into the
Comprehensive Africa Agriculture Development
Programme (CAADP) framework of the AU. Since CAADP is about boosting investment to
CAADP, an integral part of the New Partnership stimulate growth in the agricultural sector, AU
for Africa’s Development (NEPAD), is a framework member states are expected to bring together public
for stimulating and guiding national, regional and and private sectors and civil society to increase
continental initiatives on enhanced agriculture investment, improve coordination, share knowledge,
productivity. successes and failures, encourage one another and
to promote joint and separate efforts towards the
improvement of the agricultural—and by extension,
CAADP was officially adopted by the AU heads of livestock—sectors in the region. CAADP has been
state and government in the 2003 Maputo Declaration the driving force behind the development of the
on Agriculture and Food Security with two main region’s National Agriculture Investment Plans
targets: achieving a 6 percent annual agricultural (NAIPs). So far, Malawi has been among the top
growth rate at the national level and allocating 10 countries to exceed CAADP targets, such as the 6
percent of national budgets to the agriculture sector. percent target for annual growth in agricultural

67 |
productivity measured via agriculture value added do not have specific policy statements (as is the
and the 10 percent share of agriculture expenditure case with other agriculture sub-sectors, such as
in total public expenditure (Makombe et al., 2019; irrigation).
Pernechele et al., 2021).
[Link] The National Agricultural
The Livestock Development Strategy for Africa Investment Plan (NAIP) (2017-2022)
(LiDESA, 2015-2035) aims at transforming the
African livestock sector for enhanced contribution to The NAIP provides a framework for guiding
socioeconomic development and equitable growth. investments in the agriculture sector to ensure
The strategy seeks to achieve the transformation of coherence with overall and sectoral policy and
the livestock sector through significant public and investment frameworks. The NAIP’s policy
private sector investments, which is expected to foundations are mainly the MW2063, the NAP, and
address key issues that affect the sector and lead to the CAADP. It follows the goal of the NAP, which
an annual growth of 5-6 percent, which fits into the is to achieve sustainable agricultural transformation
CAADP development framework. that will result in significant growth of the
agricultural sector, expanding incomes for farm
12.1.3 National strategy and policy households, improved food and nutrition security
instruments for Malawians and increased agricultural exports. It
has 16 intervention areas (IAs) which cut across four
12.1.3.1Malawi 2063 programs: 1) policies, institutions and coordination;
2) resilient livelihoods and agricultural systems; 3)
Malawi 2063 (MW2063) is Malawi’s development production and productivity and 4) markets, value
framework for aligning the country’s development addition, trade and finance. Intervention areas in
to the AU Agenda 2063. MW2063 has three which livestock feature highly include pest and
pillars, including an optimally productive and disease management; access to inputs; agricultural
commercialized agriculture sector, to which livestock markets and trade and inclusive private investments
are an indispensable component. Livestock are also in agribusiness.
an essential sector for the realisation of the other two
pillars on industrialisation and urbanisation. [Link] Policy document on livestock
in Malawi (2006-2011)
[Link] The National Agriculture
Policy (NAP) (2016-2021) The active sector-specific policy document for the
Malawi livestock sector was published in 2006 and
The NAP provides clear and comprehensive policy was meant to be valid to 2011. A new policy for the
livestock sector has been developed and is due for
guidance in the agriculture sector. The NAP’s vision
endorsement by the Government of Malawi.
is to ensure food and nutrition security in a more
coordinated and diversified approach through
The vision of the 2006 policy was Malawi becoming a
the commercialisation of agriculture. The specific
nation that is self-sufficient in safe locally produced
objective of the NAP is to guide Malawi to achieve livestock and livestock products and the mission
transformation of the agriculture sector, with was to achieve sustainable livestock development
commercializing of the smallholder subsector as the to improve nutritional well-being of Malawians
principal focus. The NAP has 8 priority areas: and improved rural livelihoods while guaranteeing
the safety of the public from consumption and
1) sustainable agricultural production and
utilisation of livestock products and by-products.
productivity;
The guiding principles of the policy were: demand
2) sustainable irrigation development; driven livestock services delivery; pluralism of
3) mechanisation of agriculture; service delivery; privatisation of some livestock
services; cost recovery and cost sharing and
4) agricultural market development, agro- participatory approach [to livestock development]
processing and value addition; and community empowerment. The goal of
5) food and nutrition security; the policy was to contribute towards improved
household, national food security and poverty
6) agricultural risk management; reduction through sustainable private sector and
7) empowerment of youth, women and farmer demand driven livestock services.
vulnerable groups in agriculture; and
8) institutional development, coordination and The general objective of the policy was to increase
capacity strengthening. availability of quality livestock and livestock
products by promoting local production through
Although the livestock sector is mentioned in most enhancement of service delivery by:
of the policy statements for the priority areas, they

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 • articulating the specific strategies and development strategies, and it has 9 priority areas:
activities that can boost livestock production;
1) sustainable commercially led livestock
• responding effectively to the challenges production and productivity;
of poverty reduction and improving rural
livelihoods in Malawi; 2) animal welfare, health and disease control;
• creating an enabling environment and 3) livestock research for innovations and
promotion of private sector, NGOs and technology development;
farmer participation with government 4) livestock market development, agro-
providing inspection, regulatory roles and processing and value addition;
backup for export markets.
5) livestock for resilience, security and risk
The specific objectives of the policy were to: management;
6) empowerment of all gender groups including
• liberalize marketing and involvement of youth, women and vulnerable groups
non-governmental organizations (NGOs) through livestock sector;
and farmer groups to facilitate capacity
development in the livestock sub-sector; 7) livestock sector development, coordination
and capacity strengthening;
• specifically tailor the livestock development
strategies to contribute to challenges of 8) natural resource management and climate
poverty reduction and improvement of rural change; and
livelihoods in Malawi; 9) access to finance, mechanisation and
• coordinate and network the roles of the investment.
various stakeholders in the Livestock sub-
sector, and in particular the private sector
(commercial producers), NGOs, farmers
associations and cooperatives and the public The policy’s emphasis on commercialisation fits in
sector; with the first pillar of MW2063, which is to achieve
an optimally productive and commercialized
• prevent and control animal diseases to agriculture sector.
create an enabling environment for the
improvement of livestock production;
• protect the public from zoonotic and food-
12.2 Livestock sector regulation
borne diseases.
The livestock industry in Malawi is regulated by the
Since 2006, the Government of Malawi has managed Executive arm of government via the Ministry of
to achieve some of these objectives (including Agriculture through DAHLD. The vision of DAHLD
liberalizing marketing and service delivery in the is for Malawi to become a nation that is self-sufficient
livestock sector) with various degrees of success, in safe locally produced livestock and livestock
but there is still room for substantial improvement. products. Its mission is to achieve a sustainable
For instance, there is need to come up with policies livestock development to improve nutritional well-
to vet the quality of the veterinary and animal being of Malawians and improved rural livelihoods
production services offered to farmers. There is while guaranteeing the safety of the public from
also a need to improve coordination of livestock consumption and utilisation of livestock products
development interventions to avoid duplication and by products. The department’s mandate is to
of livestock development efforts. Prevention and promote sustainable livestock development and
control of diseases, especially notifiable ones, is still protect the public from zoonotic diseases through
a challenge that needs to be addressed. DAHLD is the delivery of animal production and veterinary
in the process of reviewing some of the pieces of services.
legislation applicable to the livestock sector to try
and create an enabling environment for improving 12.3 Livestock sector legislation
animal and public health services (see Section 12.3).
As the agency of the Government of Malawi
[Link] The National Livestock responsible for regulating the livestock sector,
Development Policy (2021-2026, not DAHLD is guided by Acts of Parliament, most of
published yet) them having their origin in the colonial era to regulate
animal matters in Malawi. The current main Acts
This policy is expected to supersede the Policy that regulate veterinary services and activities are:
Document on Livestock in Malawi of 2006. 1) the Control and Diseases of Animals Act; 2) the
The policy will serve as an operational tool for Meat and Meat Products Act; 3) the Milk and Milk
Products Act; 4) the Protection of Animals Act; 5) the
the implementation of the national livestock
Hide and Skin Trade Act; and 6) the Veterinary and

69 |
Para-veterinary Practitioners Act 2001. to protect the “welfare” of domestic and tame
animals which are kept for use by man. The purpose
12.3.1 Control and Diseases of Animals is to protect animals against unnecessary pain and
Act 1967 (Cap 66:02)4 suffering. It provides for the prevention of cruelty
against animals and prescribes punishment against
offenders. In practice, this Act has not been ably
The Control and Diseases of Animals Act is the main enforced, most probably due to lack of civic education
Act regulating animal health matters in Malawi. Its on animal welfare. There is a need to review this Act
main purpose is to protect the national herd and in line with the prevailing views and sensitivity of
the public from transmissible disease considered animal welfare issues globally. With support from
to have 1) have potential for serious spread; 2) LSPCA, DAHLD published and launched animal
socioeconomic and /or public health importance; welfare guidelines for Malawi in 2020.
and 3) major importance in international trade of
animals and animal products. Although the bulk
of the provisions this Act remains valid law to-date 12.3.5 Hide and Skin Trade Act 1970
there is a need to update it to reflect the demands (Cap 50:02)8
of the recent 1994 Republic of Malawi Constitution
and to conform with new societal expectations This Act is to provide for the regulation of the
under the decentralized institutional arrangements trade in hides and skins. The provisions of this Act
and more importantly to be compliant with the relate to dealing in hides and skins and to licenses
current international standards and regulations. authorizing such dealing extending to designated
The process of reviewing and amending this Act has areas and such classes of hides and skins. This is
been initiated and in process, however, not yet to be very important Act which also requires reviewing to
completed. include acceptable current standards and improve
on enforcement of imports and exports
12.3.2 Meat and Meat Products Act
1975 (Cap 67:02)5 12.3.6 Veterinary and Para-veterinary
Practitioners Act 2001 (Cap 53:04)9
This Act is responsible for the regulation of quality
control and marketing of meat and meat products. It This Act has just been reviewed to address notable
ensures that meat and meat products on the market shortcomings in the old act (“the Veterinary Surgeons
are wholesome and fit for consumption by the Act”) and was enacted into law in 2001. The main
public. Most importantly, it protects the public from purpose of this Act is to regulate the veterinary
zoonotic and food borne diseases of animal origin. profession in the country.
This Act also requires reviewing in line with the
prevailing public health situation and this process 12.3.7 Fertilizers, Farm Feeds and
was already initiated by DAHLD and is yet to be Remedies Act 1996 (Cap 67:04)10
finalized.
The Act deals with registration, sale and control of
12.3.3 Milk and Milk Products Act, remedies used in agriculture. Matters dealt with by
1986 (Cap 67:05)6 these Regulations include: application for registration
and (conditions for) registration of a remedy with the
The purpose of this Act is to ensure that milk and registering officer; import of experimental remedy;
milk products on the market are wholesome and approval of brands for registration by the registering
fit for human consumption. In essence, it aims at officer; labelling of containers for remedies and
protecting the public from known Zoonotic diseases requirements for containers; safety precautions to
transmitted through milk and milk products. Just be taken by a user of remedies; sampling, inspection
like the meat and meat products Act, this act is and analysis of remedies by inspectors; power of the
being reviewed in line with prevailing public health Minister to restrict or prohibit the use of a remedy.
situation, the market structure and diversity of
stakeholders in the dairy industry. 12.3.8 Public Health Act 1975 (Cap
34:01)11
12.3.4 Protection of Animals Act 1970
(Cap 66:01)7 The Act creates the legal framework for the protection

The Protection of Animals Act Cap 66:01 is intended base/national/malawi/[Link]

8 [Link]
4 [Link] load/files/skin%20and%20hides%[Link]
5 [Link] 9 [Link]
6 [Link] 10 [Link]
tion/6705 11 [Link]
7 [Link] 86212dc91
| 70
of public health in Malawi and for this purpose 12.4 Livestock strategy, policy,
provides for powers of the administration to regulate regulation, and legislation evaluation
and control and animal and food production and
handling, food and water supply, sewerage and so and outlook
on. It includes sections on notification of infectious
diseases, prevention and suppression of such The strategy and policy instruments addressing
diseases and notification of epidemic or endemic agriculture issues in Malawi are robust and have
animal diseases. The Milk Hygiene rules deal with the necessary provisions for advancement of the
hygiene or sanitary procedures, food quality control, agriculture sector if properly applied, implemented
food safety, inspection, milk and dairy products as and enforced. However, except for the National
well as packaging and labelling. Livestock Development Policy, the higher-level
national strategy and policy instruments lean more
12.3.9 Pharmacy, Medicines and towards promotion of other agriculture sectors,
such as crops. Livestock interventions are generally
Poisons Act 1988 (Cap 35:01)12 included as ancillary activities to the main activities.
In most of the tools, livestock interventions revolve
The Act provides for the establishment of the around increasing livestock ownership. However,
Pharmacy, Medicines and Poisons Board, the there is need to create a conducive environment
registration and disciplining of pharmacists, for livestock business to thrive, including access to
pharmacy technologists and pharmacy technicians, good regional and international markets. This kind
the training within Malawi of pharmacists, of environment requires additional tools, such as a
pharmacy technologists and pharmacy technicians, national animal identification and recording policy
the licensing of traders in medicines and poisons
and generally for the control and regulation of the or framework.
profession of pharmacy in Malawi. Various rules of
this Act also apply to veterinary drugs.

12 [Link]

71 |
13. On-going projects and partners in the
livestock sector
The Government of Malawi as well as many other Agricultural cooperatives are regulated by
organizations are working towards improving the Cooperative Societies Act of 1998 and the
the livestock industry in the country, together and Cooperative Development Policy of 1997. The
individually. The level of engagement varies from Policy is being revised and its corresponding
player to player but includes livestock interventions strategy being developed. Agricultural associations
packaged together with other broader interventions are regulated by the Trustees Incorporation Act of
for improving people’s livelihood to livestock 2000 but there is no standalone policy framework
interventions delivered as sole or major interventions. for associations. Some associations register as
Whichever level of engagement is used does not companies indicating multiplicity and potential
matter much, provided that the contribution of source of conflict of interest. Anchor-farms are
livestock to the achievement of the SDGs is enhanced. regulated by the Companies Act but it is not clear
Kassie et al (2020) reported that where constraints to what extent anchor farm arrangements are
to production co-exist for different subsystems of regulated under the same Act. Other forms of FOs,
people’s livelihoods (crops, livestock, forestry, etc.), such as farmer clubs do not have a regulatory or
implementing integrated interventions may lead to policy framework. According to the [Government
higher levels of household incomes. Government’s of Malawi] Ministry of Agriculture (2020), there are
partners in animal health and livestock development many major challenges facing FOs including lack of
include farmer organizations (FOs); civil society; strategic platforms for FOs to participate in policy
veterinary statutory body; professional associations; dialogues.
and non-governmental organizations (NGO).
13.1.1 Farmers’ Union of Malawi
13.1 Farmer organizations
The umbrella body for FOs in Malawi is the Farmers
Farmer organizations (FOs) for producers and Union of Malawi (FUM). Established in 2003, FUM
value chain players are very important for the aims to 1) provide a collective voice of farmers in
development of the livestock sector in Malawi. FOs Malawi; 2) bring visible platform for interaction among
are organizations that are created to represent the and between farmers and farming stakeholders and
interests of farmers, including farmer clubs, anchor 3) act as a vehicle for collective action and to lobby
farms, farmer associations, agricultural cooperatives, for all farmers in Malawi. The mission of FUM is ‘to
and any other grouping of farmers. Many of the promote and safeguard the interest of all farmers
challenges which have been cited to be plaguing in Malawi and create a conductive agricultural
the livestock sector, especially the dairy (Banda et operating environment for improved agricultural
al., 2011; Ivo Baur et al., 2017) and poultry sectors, productivity, market access and increased farmer
are deep-rooted in poor organization of respective income’. FUM has a vision of Malawian farmers
value chains, and it is believed that stronger FOs with a powerful collective voice to promote and
can be very instrumental in improving the situation advance their interests. Overall objectives of FUM
(ILO, 2017). Government of Malawi recognized are to; promote the development of strong farmers’
the importance of farmer organizations, which representation in Malawi, support strengthening of
led to the formulation of the Farmer Organization member organizations capacity to deliver adequate
Development Strategy (FODS) in 2020 (Ministry of service to their members and advance and protect
Agriculture, 2020) aimed at providing an enabling the common interest of farmers locally, regionally
environment for different types of FOs to flourish in and internationally. FUM endeavours to achieve
Malawi. the specified objectives by focusing on the three
operational areas; 1) institutional development and
investments; 2) research, policy and partnerships
FOs fall into two major categories: cooperatives
and 3) agribusiness and marketing. Within the
and associations. An association is a group of legal
area of Institutional development and investments,
people (members) who come together for a common
FUM endeavours to support the establishment
purpose (such as the advancement of the livestock
of strong, credible and sustainable organizations
industry in this case). A cooperative is an autonomous
that effectively and efficiently provide services to
association of persons united voluntarily to meet
farmers and other stakeholders. Under this area
their common economic, social, and cultural needs
FUM identifies the following as key results areas
and aspirations through a jointly owned enterprise.
towards achieving its objectives: 1) improving the

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relevance of farmer member organization to farmers 13.1.3 Malawi Milk Producers
in Malawi and 2) improving credibility of farmer Association
member organizations to key stakeholders and
strengthening national commodity organizations.
FUM is on course towards achievement of these MMPA is an umbrella association for three dairy
objectives. association in the three regions of Malawi: Mpoto
Dairy Farmers’ Association (MDFA); Central Region
Milk Producers’ Association (CREMPA) and Shire
13.1.2 National Smallholder Farmers’ Highlands Milk Producers’ Association (SHMPA).
Association of Malawi The three regional associations have a combined
membership of over 21,000 dairy farmers organized
Malawi has a National Smallholder Farmers’ in 14, 52 and 54 Milk Bulking Groups (MBGs),
Association of Malawi (NASFAM), which respectively. The main purpose of MMPA is to
is considered a leading smallholder farmer promote milk production and consumption in the
organization in Malawi and as a model for emerging country. MMPA’s mission is to alleviate poverty
organizations in the country and the region. The by promoting and coordinating activities towards
association has strong structures for supporting the advancement of dairy farming in Malawi.
members and has wide membership (approximately MMPA protects the interests of dairy farmers by 1)
100,000 members). However, the association tends lobbying for favourable dairy policies 2) facilitating
to concentrate on crop-related value chains, such as dissemination of market information; 3) creating
groundnuts, rice, tobacco, soya, pigeon peas, beans, linkages and network for farmers and 4) providing
and sunflower. Livestock are just included as part of technical skills for improved milk production
broader livelihood interventions. Major associations and quality milk products while maintaining the
specifically in the livestock sector are in the dairy environment to mitigate the effects of climate change.
and poultry sectors. This is because these are the The major challenges faced by the association include
sectors that contribute more to the livestock sector. lack of breeding stock and lack of markets for milk,
The Associations include Malawi Milk Producers especially in the northern region.
Association (MMPA); Small and Medium Poultry
Farmers Association (SMPFA) and Poultry Industry 13.1.4 Small and Medium Poultry
Association of Malawi (PIAM). Table 23 shows a Farmers Association
summary of some of the farmer associations in the
livestock sector in Malawi.
SMPFA is an up-coming association established in
2016 (registered in 2018) working towards having a

TABLE 23: SUMMARY OF ASSOCIATIONS IN THE LIVESTOCK SECTOR IN MALAWI

Association Membership Purpose Mission Strategies

Malawi Milk 21 000 Promote milk To alleviate poverty Lobbying;
Producers production and by promoting Networking; Training
Association consumption in and coordinating
(MMPA) the country activities towards
the advancement
of dairy farming in
Malawi
Small and 8 000-9 000 A happy Malawi To provide technical Source markets for
Medium poultry farmer support to enhance members; Lobby
Poultry Farmers productivity of for better policies
Association small and medium (better market share);
(SMPFA) poultry enterprises Introduce new and
profitable breeds;
Provide technical info
to members (feed
formulation); Plan
to establish soybean
farm

Source: FAO. 2021. FAOSTAT database. Food and agriculture data. [Link]

73 |
happy poultry farmer. The mission of SMPFA is to of July 2021.
provide technical support to enhance productivity of
small and medium poultry enterprises. This is being 13.4 Professional organizations
done mainly through 1) sourcing for markets for
members; 2) lobbying for better policies for farmers;
3) introduction of new and profitable breeds; 4) The major professional associations in the livestock
provision of technical assistance to members (such sector are Veterinary Assistants Association of
as in feed formulation). Some of the challenges being Malawi (VAAM); Malawi Veterinary Association
faced by the association include high prices of inputs (MVA) and Animal Scientists Association of Malawi
(day-old chicks, feed) and stiff competition from (ASAM). ASAM is still in the process of registration.
large-scale players. Although government decreed
that the large-scale operators should desist from 13.4.1 Malawi Veterinary Association
retail markets, the association would wish to see this
regulation fully enforced, which is currently not the The MVA is a representative of the veterinary
case. profession in Malawi. It is composed of veterinarians
registered in Malawi. The vision of MVA is to
“remain a strong, respected, viable and financially
13.2 Civil society and advocacy self-sustaining association capable of effective
promotion, maintenance and advancement of
There are many civil society organizations (CSOs) the interest of the veterinary profession with the
working in the agriculture sector in general, some highest standards of professional ethics”. The
of which deal with livestock to a higher degree. mission is to “promote and maintain the highest
The Civil Society Agriculture Network (CISANET), standards of veterinary services through quality
established in 2001, facilitates CSOs engagement veterinary knowledge and professional conduct”.
with Government over policy issues affecting the MVA has several objectives, including to foster good
agriculture sector. CISANET provides leadership relationship and understanding between registered
among non-state actors (NSAs) in agriculture policy veterinarians and government and local authorities;
analysis and advocacy. It aims at ensuring that and to support the improvement of teaching, training
NSAs in the agriculture sector have a voice and can and research in allied sciences. The professional
contribute towards agriculture policy formulation, associations are helping rein in their members, hence
implementation, monitoring and evaluation. In promotion of professionalism.
addition, CISANET aims at providing alternative
views as well as checks and balances to Government 13.4.2 Veterinary Assistants
for increased mutual transparency and accountability
in the agriculture sector. CISANET’s vision is to Association of Malawi
be a leading Network that effectively coordinates
and fosters collaboration among non-state actors The Veterinary Assistants Association of Malawi
towards Malawi’s agricultural transformation, (VAAM) was established in 1998. It currently has
while its mission is to promote agricultural about 241 members, mostly working in the public
development and sustainable livelihoods for service. VAAM is member of African Veterinary
the rural poor by influencing desired change in Technicians Association (AVTA). The objectives of
policies, practices and attitudes of Government, the association include to 1) promote, maintain and
donors, civil society and other stakeholders through advance the interest of the Veterinary profession in
effective and results focused advocacy, research the country; 2) promote cooperation between the
and Networking. CISANET has been instrument in Association and other national and international
the development of the livestock sector’s National professional organizations and associations; 3)
Livestock Development Policy, which is due for promote the fields of veterinary activities by
operationalisation. any proper means including the organization of
congresses and seminars; 4) foster good relationship
and understanding between the association on the
13.3 Veterinary statutory body one hand and the Government and Local authorities
on the other; 5) support the improvement of teaching,
The veterinary sector in Malawi is backed up by training and research in allied sciences; 6) maintain
the Veterinary and Para-veterinary Act of 2001. the ethics and hour of the veterinary profession;
The Act provides for the establishment of Board of and 7) ensure that Malawian farmers have healthy
Veterinary Surgeons (BVS), which is supposed to animals by making sure that veterinary drugs and
be the sole authority for registering veterinary and services are provided timely. Current challenges
para-veterinary practitioners. The functions of BVS include weak linkages with statutory bodies and
are to 1) assist in the promotion and improvement other local associations.
of animal health and industry in Malawi; 2) enforce
discipline among veterinary practitioners; 3)
create, implement and monitor veterinary training
standards. Unfortunately, the board did not exist as

| 74
13.5 Non-governmental organizations Protection of Animals (LSPCA) and All Creatures.
The NGOs are reaching out to many rural farmers
Non-governmental organizations (NGOs) working with practical livestock development interventions.
in the livestock sector include Small Scale Livestock This is complementary to government’s animal
and Livelihoods Programme (SSLLP); Trustees for health and livestock development agenda. Table 21
Agriculture Promotion Programme (TAPP); Rural gives a summary of the main areas of intervention
Poultry Centre in Malawi (RPC); Heifer International and current activities carried out by some of the
(HI); Total Land Care (TLC); Lilongwe Society for the organizations.

TABLE 24: SUMMARY OF THE MAIN AREAS OF INTERVENTION AND CURRENT ACTIVITIES
CARRIED OUT BY SOME OF THE NGOS WORKING IN THE LIVESTOCK SECTOR

NGO Local partners Main area of Major activities Where they

focus are working
Small Scale Rural Poultry Sustainable Importation 11 districts
Livestock and Centre in Malawi livelihoods and distribution (previously
Livelihoods (RPC); DAHLD of livestock to just in the
Programme smallholder farmers northern
(SSLLP) in Malawi; Training and central
community-based regions)
animal health
workers
Trustees for Government Livestock Pass-on programmes; Central region
Agriculture staff (AVOs); production and Community goat
Promotion Community community-based breeding programme;
Programme Animal Health goat breeding Training of
(TAPP) Workers; programme community animal
Veterinary service health workers;
providers Provision of start-up
drugs for the drug
boxes
Rural Poultry SSLLP; LUANAR; Rural poultry Advocating for Central region
Centre in Malawi DAHLD support to the village
(RPC) and smallholder
poultry sector;
delivery of services
for improving rural
poultry health and
productivity
Lilongwe Society Government of Welfare of Advocating for the Central region
for the Protection Malawi domestic, farm implementation
of Animals and working and enforcement of
(LSPCA) animals policies, legislation
and regulations to
promote good animal
welfare; delivery
of programmes in
veterinary care,
animal welfare
education and
training;

Source: FAO. 2021. FAOSTAT database. Food and agriculture data. [Link]

75 |
13.6 Major on-going livestock projects in Malawi. Most of the support is via agriculture
in the country and their focus sector-wide programmes that include specific or
general livestock components or themes. In 2017,
it was estimated that 14 development partners
Table 25 shows a summary of the major projects were supporting up to 106 projects with durations
being implemented in the livestock sector. averaging 4.6 years with a total projected budget
of approximately US$1 463.18 million, distributed
13.7 Livestock development partners as shown in Figure 49. This shows that the value of
these development partners is very significant, and
There are many development partners that are instrumental in the development of the agriculture
supporting the development of the livestock industry sector in general and the livestock sector in particular.

TABLE 25: MAJOR ON-GOING LIVESTOCK PROJECTS IN THE COUNTRY AND THEIR FOCUS

Project Implementors Implementing Major area of Strategies

partners focus (with
(period) respect to
livestock)
Commercial NIRAS Swisscontact; Strengthening of Provision of technical
Agriculture for International; CAB small and medium assistance to SMEs;
Smallholders TechnoServe International; poultry enterprises provision of support to
and Agribusiness IIED (SMEs) producer organisations;
(CASA) and creating business
enabling environment
(2019 – 2024) in the Malawi SME
poultry sector
Transforming Government Strengthening Training farmers in
Agriculture of Malawi livestock value livestock management;
through chains Construction of
Diversification and livestock markets
Entrepreneurship

(2019 – 2026)
Agricultural Government Malawi Commercialisation Promoting the
Commercialisation of Malawi Investment and of livestock value Productive Alliance
(AGCOM) Trade Centre chains dictated (PA) Model, where
(MITC); the by prevailing commercial agreements
(2018-2023) Malawi Bureau markets. are facilitated between
of Standards; the project supported
(MBS) and the producer organisations,
Ministry of commercial off-takers
Lands, Housing and other value chain
and Urban players
Development
(MoLHUD)
Sustainable Government DAHLD; DAES Increasing Pass-on programme for
Agriculture of Malawi livestock small stock (goats and
Production ownership chickens)
Programme
(SAPP)

(2011–2023)

Source: FAO. 2021. FAOSTAT database. Food and agriculture data. [Link]

| 76
FIGURE 49: DEVELOPMENT PARTNER SUPPORT TO THE AGRICULTURE SECTOR IN MALAWI AS OF
2017

AfDB = African Development Bank; DFID = (United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern
Ireland) Department for International Development; EUD = European Union; FAO = The Food
and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations; IFAD = International Fund for Agricultural
Development; JICA = Japanese International Cooperation Agency; RNE = Royal Norwegian
Embassy; USAID = United States Agency for International Development; WB = World Bank; WFP
= The World Food Programme (United Nations)

Source: FAO. 2021. FAOSTAT database. Food and agriculture data. [Link]

77 |
14. Prospects of the livestock sector
The livestock sector in Malawi, as in most developing ubiquitous in developing countries (Martins and
economies, is growing, and will continue to do so Lilenbaum, 2014) and are an integral part of people’s
in the foreseeable future. Although the sector is livelihoods in Malawi (CISONECC, 2014). Pigs are
currently riddled with many challenges, it does efficient feed convertors, and coupled with their
have the potential to grow and contribute more to low initial investment requirements (Dietze and
the Malawi economy. Food and Agriculture Organization: Agricultural
Support Systems Division, 2012), they are a very
14.1 Livestock growth patterns good candidate for helping farmers to graduate
from poverty. It has been suggested that livestock
enterprises involving small and medium-sized
Figure 50 shows Malawi’s livestock units (LU13) livestock like small ruminants and pigs are viable
trends for the major livestock species as of 2019 and profitable, and can be easily adopted and
(based on FAO livestock patterns figures). The adapted by small-scale farmers (Dietze and Food
densities of LU (LU/ha) have been increasing and Agriculture Organization: Agricultural Support
for all the species. The percentages of the LU of Systems Division, 2012), who are likely to continue
different species (to total LU) have been increasing to be dominant players in the livestock sector in
for goats and pigs and decreasing for cattle, sheep Africa, at least until 2050 (Herrero et al., 2014).
and chickens. This suggests that goats and pigs are
increasing in importance in the country. Goats are
13 LU ~ 0.7 TLU

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FIGURE 50: LIVESTOCK UNITS (LU) TRENDS FOR THE MAJOR SPECIES (CATTLE, SHEEP, GOATS,
PIGS AND CHICKENS)

Source: FAO. 2021. FAOSTAT database. Food and agriculture data. [Link]
14.2 Potential for the growth of the of livestock products is positively correlated with
livestock sector income levels (Mathijs, 2015; McLeod, 2011).
Considering that Malawi is among the least
developed countries (LDCs), the potential for
Current consumption levels of livestock products economic growth is very high and the potential for
in Malawi are low compared to the region and the increased consumption of animal products is also
world (see Section 5.1). The level of consumption high. Higher demand for animal products means

79 |
high potential for the growth of the livestock sector. is therefore not just about indirectly improving
This is an opportunity for the livestock sector actors public health through better nutrition: it is also
to get organized and sustainably meet the demand. about directly preventing zoonotic diseases. The
ever-present danger of new infections from animals
14.3 Investment opportunities in the (and vice-versa) imply that improvement of animal
health—and by extension, the livestock sector—
livestock sector is supposed to be an on-going and multisectoral
process. This is another wake-up call for need for
According to the Malawi Investment and Trade increased investment in the livestock sector.
Centre, there are many investment opportunities in
the livestock sector, including in dairy, beef and pig
production because Malawi’s livestock products are 14.5 Livestock and the COVID-19
mostly organic. Malawi has a large international and pandemic
regional export market at its disposal because the
country has trading arrangements encompassing The Malawi livestock sector has been negatively
SADC, COMESA, and Generalized Scheme of affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. Aggarwal et al
Preferences of the EU’s Everything but Arms (2020) found that in Malawi and Liberia, marketing
Initiative, the African Growth and Opportunity Act, activities were severely disrupted leading to
China General Tariff Preferential Treatment, the significant reduction in incomes among vendors.
India Preferential Trade Arrangement Benefiting Small livestock producers in developing economies
Least Developed Countries (LDCs) and the Japan have been reported to face significant obstacles in
Preferential Trade Arrangement Benefiting LDCs accessing market information and extension services
(Malawi Investment and Trade Centre, 2021). during the pandemic (Quayson et al., 2020). This is
believed to have affected farm performance (Hatab
14.4 Livestock and public health et al., 2021). Disruption of market linkages and
extension services in the wake of the pandemic can be
ameliorated by using digital solutions that connect
Livestock are and will continue to be very important farmers to fellow farmers and other players in the
actors in the epidemiology of diseases in people. sector (Chiumia et al., 2020). This falls within the
Zoonotic diseases remain an important danger FAO recommendations for exploring and utilizing
to human (public) health (Wilson et al., 2020). alternatives in interacting with stakeholders in the
The current trend is to treat animal health as a livestock development and animal health sector as a
determinant of public health, instead of dealing with way of mitigating against the effects of the pandemic
the two separately, an approach that is called “One
Health” (Johansson, 2016). Improvement of the (FAO, 2020a).
livestock sector via improvement of animal health

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15. Major constraints in the livestock sector
The livestock sector in Malawi is fraught with many Lack of a dairy processing plant has been cited
constraints and challenges. Major constraints to the as one of the biggest challenges for farmers in the
livestock industry include operational challenges; northern region. Milk processors in Lilongwe cannot
marketing challenges; and institutional challenges. commit themselves to collecting milk from the
All the livestock species are affected by these region, purportedly due to the low milk volumes.
challenges to some extent. Subsequently, farmers resort to the informal milk
markets, which, as reported by Chitika (2008), are
15.1 Operational constraints inconsistent.

At the farmer’s level, challenges leading to low In Malawi, lack of accurate market information
productivity of animals include poor access to quality system is a major constraint for producers and
breeding stock, poor quality of feeds and pastures policy makers alike (FAO, 2014). Lack of market
and ubiquitous livestock diseases. Most smallholder information reduces farmers’ capacities to plan their
farmers practice poor livestock husbandry, and businesses and set appropriate prices, which reduces
this leads to increased production costs and limits their bargaining power. It also makes it difficult for
profitability of the livestock enterprises. There is high policy makers to make appropriate policy decisions.
prevalence of diseases, in some cases leading to high
mortality. Yields and general productivity are low. About 19 percent of the milk produced in Malawi is
In a study carried out to find out the main challenges used for subsistence, while 57 percent and 23 percent
faced by dairy farmers in the country, it was found is delivered to MBGs (which goes to the formal
that the dairy farmers perceive low milk price and sector) and informal markets, respectively (Chitika,
milk yield, animal health, availability of feedstock, 2008). Chitika (2008) reported that although informal
and the costs for drugs as their main challenges markets usually offer higher prices, the formal
(Baur et al., 2017)whereas very little is known about markets offer consistent market opportunities.
what farmers themselves perceive to be challenging.
To better understand the farmers’ perspective and As indicated in Section [Link], most of the large-scale
what they perceive to be challenging, and how players, especially in the poultry sector, are vertically
these challenges differ across regions, this paper integrated, and are likely to enjoy economies of scale.
builds on a survey of 529 dairy farmers in Malawi. This crowds out small-scale producers.
In the survey, respondents were asked in an open
question to name their three main challenges. Based 15.3 Institutional constraints
on the responses, a three-level coding scheme was
elaborated. Data were then coded by two researchers
to ensure reliability of coding. Codes were then used At the institutional level, challenges include
to calculate relative frequencies for the different ineffective delivery of livestock extension services;
challenges and to perform chi-square tests to check ineffective control of notifiable and trans-boundary
for regional differences in frequencies. Results disease; limited animal product traceability protocols;
suggest that farmers perceive low milk price and over-emphasis on other sectors of agriculture apart
milk yield, animal health, availability of feedstock, from livestock; limited public budgetary support to
and the costs for drugs as the main challenges. livestock; and limited investment in the livestock
The analysis also revealed that the challenges vary sector.
strongly between the three main regions in the
country – Blantyre (south. The performance of the livestock extension service
delivery system in terms of ability to meet set target
is very low. This poor performance is in part due
15.2 Marketing constraints to inadequate staff, low staff motivation as well
as funding and other limitations imposed by the
At marketing level, challenges include weak or non- current agriculture administrative structure at the
existent market linkages. As suggested in other district agriculture office.
sections above, livestock input and product markets
are very imperfect in Malawi. This imperfection Livestock diseases continue to be a major limitation
ranges from spatial distribution of input suppliers to the productivity of livestock in Malawi. The
and animal product processors, through lack of Malawi animal disease control and public health
market information to monopolies in key market management apparatus does not seem to be well
functions. equipped to effectively control and contain diseases,

81 |
as is witnessed by the continuing prevalence of sector leads to reduced capacity for effective
major economically important diseases such as regulation of the industry, such as the difficulty in
FMD and African swine fever and easily preventable controlling tick-borne diseases because most of the
tick-borne diseases such as ECF as well as the ever- dip tanks are non-functional. Additionally, there is
increasing danger of zoonotic diseases such as low investment in research and development in the
bovine tuberculosis. livestock sector, which is leading to slow adoption of
modern livestock technologies (FAO, 2020b).
Limited or lack of animal identification and animal
product traceability protocols means that animals Farmers are supposed to invest in their own
and animal products cannot be traced to their enterprises. The institutional and production
source. This limitation creates lack of confidence environment in Malawi is not conducive for such
of consumers in the quality and safety of the investment, especially for smallholder farmers.
animals or their products and is severely limiting It is estimated that in Malawi, about 90 percent of
the marketability of Malawian animal and animal loans are given to a few large corporate institutions,
products regionally and internationally. yet SME contribute significantly to the economy.
Smallholder farmers do not have easy access to loans
Over-emphasis on other sectors of agriculture apart due to many factors, including low creditworthiness
from livestock can be seen in the disproportionate and lack of suitable collaterals. Lack of suitable
amount of funding that goes into other sectors such collaterals is exacerbated by land tenure systems in
as crop production (which is heavily funded through which farmers do not have titles to the land they use
the AIP (previously FISP)) and Water, Fisheries (both (insecure land tenure), which happens to be their
of which are separately funded to tunes way above nearest valuable resource.
the funding given to livestock.
There is neeed for DAHLD and NSO to revisit the
For the livestock sector to grow, there is need for recommendations made by Afrique Emergence
short-, medium- and long-term investment. As Conseil (2017) to adjust the methodology for
indicated in Section 11, the livestock sector receives estimating the contribution of livestock to
very little public funding, most of which goes to day- Malawi’s GDP, based on the observation that the
to-day operations of DAHLD instead of investment methodologies used in Malawi’s national accounts
into the industry. This is even reflected in the poor may be underestimating this important component
state of some public livestock infrastructure (Section of the national GDP.
9.2.1). Lack of public investment in the livestock

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16. Suggested recommendations
The livestock sector in Malawi has the potential to shows recommendations for addressing the major
improve the agricultural economy. Several things challenges identified in this report at operational,
can be done to realize this potential. Table 26 marketing and institutional levels.
TABLE 26: RECOMMENDATIONS FOR ADDRESSING MAJOR CONSTRAINTS IN THE LIVESTOCK
SECTOR IN MALAWI

Constraints Recommendation
Operational level
Poor quality of Promote on-farm feed formulation
feeds and pastures
Promote feed conservation
Poor access to Reduce dependence on imported breeding stock or semen
quality breeding
Set up national breed evaluation programmes for the breeds of importance
stock
(including Malawi Zebu, which is used as the based population for the
smallholder dairy sector) as proposed by Chawala et al (2021)
Train more AI technicians to facilitate AI services
Include multiple ovulation and embryo transfer (MOET) services at NAIS
Livestock diseases Train and equip more CAHWs
and parasites
Increase the AVO to farmer ratio
Marketing level
Lack of markets Establish or facilitate the establishment of markets in key areas

Cattle and goat markets across the country

A dairy processing plant in the northern region

Lack of market Promote use of information technology to enable farmers to get the latest
information information about product and service prices in real time
Market monopolies Design and enforce legislation aimed at protecting and nurturing small-scale
producers
Institutional level
Limited budgetary Increase budgetary support to livestock
support to the
Increase the number of livestock and livestock inputs supported in AIP
livestock sector
Ineffective delivery Make Livestock Sections in district agriculture offices more autonomous for them
of livestock to have more say and control over budgeting issues so that the Livestock Sections
extension services are appropriately funded. This can be done by promoting Livestock Sections to
programme level so that they become cost centres
Create specialist officer positions such as Livestock Officer (Dairy), Livestock
Officer (Poultry) and so on, at district agriculture offices, as is the case in other
sections
Increase the number of livestock extension workers by increasing the number of
assistant veterinary officers (AVOs) and recruiting at least one assistant livestock
development officer (ALDO) per agricultural extension planning area (EPA)

83 |
 Constraints Recommendation
Ineffective control Train and/or recruit more veterinary staff
of notifiable and
Improve capacity of the CVL to produce vaccines
trans-boundary
animal diseases Train and equip more CAHWs, AHSAs and Vet Scouts
Formulate and operationalize a national livestock compensation policy
Encourage farmers to use animal insurance services (to make it easier for
government to implement disease control measures requiring disposing of
affected animals)
Limited animal Finalize and pass the national animal identification and recording legislation
product traceability
Set up and operationalize a national animal identification and recording system
protocols
to help with animal product traceability.
Over-emphasis on Consider making livestock a separate ministry to increase its bargaining power
other sectors of
Consider giving livestock a permanent secretary so that it can have parallel
agriculture apart
structures within the ministry it is allocated to.
from livestock
Consider creating separated directorates for Animal Health and Animal
Production so that each livestock component is appropriately funded and
effectively administered
Limited investment Promote public-private partnerships
in the livestock
Support the creation and development of farmer organizations (such as
sector
cooperatives) to increase farmers’ chances of attracting investment
Encourage private investment into livestock research and development

Source: FAO. 2021. FAOSTAT database. Food and agriculture data. [Link]

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 Representation in Malawi
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[Link]
Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations
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ISBN 978-92-5-136670-7

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